Here we have a 1950's hira-maki-e pen with a Japanese Samurai seal design. The flat, burnished maki-e technique depicts several family crests that belonged to the Samurai class. Real Samurai would have worn these crests on the back and on the sleves of their kimonos. A very interesting, vintage maki-e pen.

The antique dealer who sold me this pen swore that it is a Pilot 1950's Maki-e. Well it looks like a Pilot and it does have a Pilot nib, but I have never seen one of these "R" style pens without the name "Pilot" engraved on the clip. All of the "R" pens (from 1937 to 1952) had a sword clip like this one. But this clip only says "R14K" meaning that the clip was rolled gold.

The pen also has some other faults. Some brassing on the capband and clip. The lever is a little too short. Either it was replaced long ago with a too short lever or the tip of this lever broke off. There are also a few wear spots to the lacquer.

If the pen were in better condition it would command a handsome price, but as is this is a bargain. The design is still stunning and this would be a good pen to break into vintage maki-e.

$449