The Sea of Clouds Platinum Izumos

[jar]

I finally got around to taking a picture of all four of the Sea of Clouds Platinum Izumos. The design is based on the ceiling painting found at the shrine in Izumo. Since each pen is had turned the exact weights and dimensions vary somewhat as you can see in the Boring Details.


http://www.fototime.com/7CC4D8B970C0012/large.jpg

And so here they are:


From left: Taisha Yagumonuri, Togi Yakumonuri, Ginsen Yakumonuri, Byakudan Yakumonuri
http://www.fototime.com/B12550FF248AB7D/large.jpg

[ethernautrix]

Ooooo! Lovely!

[da vinci]

Magnificent :applause:

[jar]

I guess a little more information on the naming might be of value.



The first pen in the series is named for the main building at the shinto shrine, the Izumo-Taisha. One of the traditions of a "Taisha" is that it is torn down and rebuilt every 60 years. The general form of a raised gabled structure remains constant but other than that the size and design can change. The last rebuilding began in 2008 and completed in 2013. In this first version the clouds are outlined in gold.



http://www.fototime.com/5A9380AE69A51CC/medium800.jpg


The second in the series was the Togi. Togi refers to rubbing and in this version the designs were built up by multiple layers of different colored urushi that was then rubbed and burnished removing some to show the underlying colors.



http://www.fototime.com/EEA16E190FDA2EC/medium800.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/C6E2A292266E547/medium800.jpg


Next came the Ginsen (silver wire). The maki-e clouds on the Ginsen are outlined with silver wire.



http://www.fototime.com/6474E96DB35C07C/medium800.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/CA4F8C4E7692D0F/medium800.jpg


And finally the Byakudan (Sandlawood) with it glowing redish color like the sandalwood incense burned at the shrine.



http://www.fototime.com/11D3C3D9913CCE1/medium800.jpg

[katherine]

So pretty! I didn't realize there were four versions -- thank you for sharing!

[sugna]

Beautiful pens! I have a Taisha Izumo Yagumonuri and love it, your pictures motivated me to get it out and ink it up this week!