The Pontifex Maximus is our first fountain pen model. In Latin, Pontifex means "bridge-builder". Made in Belgium from Japanese ebonite and featuring a "Japanese eyedropper" filling system, this oversized fountain pen is a well balanced writing instrument and offers a generous canvas for urushi and maki-e artwork.
Our urushi (Japanese lacquer) fountain pens are created in collaboration with Urushi Atelier Netherlands, where a small team of highly skilled Japanese urushi artisans is led by Dave van Gompel, the only Western graduate of the lacquerware department of the prestigious Tokyo University of the Arts. The studio prides itself in using 100% urushi exclusively and does not employ a mixture of natural and synthetic coatings.
Our unique application of lace and urushi lacquer on a fountain pen brings into being a timeless, refined and tactile combination of Western and Japanese arts & crafts.
On our Lace Byakudan fountain pens, certified antique hand-made lace from Bruges is applied and covered with silver leaf and 100% urushi from Japan in the traditional byakudan-nuri method. A matte nashiji lacquer is used to obtain a deep golden glow. Top urushi layers are burnished to make the underlying and differently colored layers appear so as to reveal the lace. The use of lace, in this case pure linen, is reminiscent of the nuno-bari method – in which fabric is lacquered and intentionally left visible.
The number of fountain pens made with a particular lace design will be limited and vary depending on the availability of the antique lace used. For 2025, Lace Byakudan production is limited to two fountain pens. See specification below.
SPECIFICATION
METHOD. Lace byakudan-nuri.
MATERIAL. 1930s "Point de fée" Bruges lace by Louise Verlé,
silver leaf & 100% urushi on ebonite.
FILLING SYSTEM. Japanese Eyedropper (3,5 ml ink capacity).
NIB. #8 18k Gold Bock nib.
DIMENSIONS. Closed length : 152~153 mm.
Barrel length (incl. nib) : 144 mm.
Barrel diameter : 16~17 mm.
Cap diameter : 19~20 mm.
YEAR. 2025 (2 fountain pens).
PRICE. 4000,00 euro incl. 21% VAT.