A Kind Of Travel Log

A kind of travel log For Christophe Larquemin, the aim of the book is to communicate his passion. For him, every pen is an adventure, a discovery, which he relates in the first person with great humour and emotion, and each time from a different angle. But whilst this may be a specialist book, it is not aiming to be a dictionary or an exhaustive catalogue, which would be didactic and dull. Instead it aims to be lively, moving, full of anecdotes, and truly a feast for the senses. This book traces the history of the brand, the Dunhill-Namiki period, the ancient secrets of producing Urushi lacquer, and all the intricacies and subtleties of the maki-e technique. It then explores the themes of the four seasons with pens that best represent a particular theme or technique, decoding the symbols and decorations. Each pen is approached in a different and original way such as through getting to know the object or its owner, or the relationship between the pen's theme and other forms of art. Next it discusses Namiki accessories such as blotters, ink wells, pen cases and boxes. Then it reviews technical aspects such as nibs, clips, rings and filling systems. And finally it reveals the world of the Namiki marketplace, which the writer knows so well: where the pens are sold, collectors, prices, and the signatures of the great master-craftsmen who have worked for the company in the past or still do today. There is also a glossary to help you understand the technical aspects.