FAQ
How to order?
For any inquiry, please feel free to contact us directly at Manu Propria Pens http://www.manupropria-pens.ch/welcome/Contact.html
Facebook
Since 2012 I maintain a daily updated Facebook site where you can find interesting information on new products, working processes http://www.facebook.com/manupropriatime
Meaning of the term "manu propria"
Manu Propria is a registered trade mark. A Latin term, literally means" made by one's own hands "Fountain Pens marked or signed with the wording or sign "manu propria" are personally and completely hand-made by Martin Pauli
Where does Manu Propria buy its Urushi
Urushi is a precious natural material and the most important material in Japan lacquer art. Only 150g of sap can be collected from each mature lacquer tree over ten years old. In comparison to the world’s annual yield of diamonds which is about 30 tons, only 1.5 tons of the highest quality Japanese urushi can be obtained in a year. Manu Propria buys its urushi from a friend in Japan who collect his own urushi in the mountains of Nagano. The urushi from Nagano is considered among the best collected all over Japan
"Tenbikurome" is the term for processing and refining urushi by stirring raw lacquer in a wooden container in the Spring Sun for several hours. This process reduces the water content and the reaction to the sunlight turnes the raw lacquer into the highest quality of urushi called "Sukurome-Urushi". I am making the tenbikurome for the urushi used for Manu Propria Pens myself every Springtime
Urushi - toxic - allergic contact reactions?
Japanese lacquer is made from the sap of the Japanese lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum). Fresh lacquer may evoke allergic contact reactions ascribable to the urushiols contained therein. Urushiol is an oil, made up of a particular class of chemicals, produced by the urushi tree "urushinoki". Sensitivity varies from person to person, tough urushiol produces a allergic reaction in more than 70% of people. Urushi dries/hardens in a constant temperature and humidity chamber "urushi muro", "urushiburo" or simply "furô" for 24 hours at +/- 25°C and relative humidity of 75% to 85%. Once urushi has dried, it is almost 0 toxic any longer, furthermore, urushi has antibacterial effects so that it is suitable for food storage. That that also strongly allergene persons can write with an Urushi fountain pen, all Manu Propria fountain pens are heated up on 150°C over a period of time.
Assays for free urushiol in the lacquer films demonstrated that free urushiol content decreased with increasing heat treatment and that urushiols with saturated und monounsaturated alkenyl chains predominated.
Urushi Finishes - Nuritate, Roiro, Fuki-Urushi
Urushi Finishes - Nuritate, Roiro, Fuki-Urushi
There are three main urushi finishes, "nuritate", "roiro" and "fuki-urushi".
Nuritate is the term for the technique in which the final urushi coat is applied carefully with a brush. The urushi is cured in the "furo" and remains unpolished. This technique is often used on table ware like for example soup bowls. The technique also includes a final transparent layer called "tame"which remains unpolished. The surface of a high quality nuritate is normally of a satin finish. When nuritate appears glossy the urushi was mixed with oil, which again weakens the urushi film.
Roiri is the term for any urushi surface polished to a high gloss.
Fuki-Urushi is the term for the technique used to impreign wood and bamboo. Raw urushi "ki-urushi" is rubbed into the surface sevaral times until the wood is saturated
How many layers of Urushi
Urushi on Manu Propria Fountain Pens is built up on 30 to 50 different layers.
Polishing Urushi
Polishing urushi as a very complicating and time consuming process. Urushi artisans should be called "polishers" rather than "lacquerers". After the final urushi coat has been applied and well cured it is ground flat and smoothened, then polished with abrasive paper up to grit 5000. Then the surface is pre-polished "dôzuri" with cotton watta and "tonoko" a very fine clay powder and rapeseed oil to remove the marks of the abrasive paper. Then - after cleaning, the final polishing "uwazuri" steps talke place. The surface is rubbed with high quality transparent urushi "kijiomi" and wiped off completely. Then it is left in the drying cabinet "furô" for 24 hours. This step is repeated 5 times. Then the surface is polished with rapeseed oil and a fine polishing powder "migako" with the finger tips. After cleaning again "kijiomi-urushi" is rubbed in and wiped off again and dried in the furô. Finally the surface is polished with "migako" and the finger tips.
Urushi glossary
For those who are interested in more information on urushi and the art I have compiled an extended Urushi Glossary on a for free download Brochure
more information: http://www.manupropria-pens.ch/welcome/News/Urushi_Glossary.html
Maintenance of Urushi - "Yô no Bi"
"Yô no Bi" beauty through use. This is a very common term in Japan. With the time scratches will appear as on every material less hard than diamond. But wear and tear is one aspect that improves the beauty of urushi lacquer objects. Urushi gets brighter and more transparent with the time and it gets harder with every year. A urushi pen should be used every day but prevent of long-term exposure to ultraviolet light. It is not necessary to clean urushi with cleaning solution, rubbing with a soft cotton cloth is sufficient. To be taken into consideration, urushi has been used in all day life in Japan over centuries, as protection coat or for decoration. Urushi was used on tableware, ceramic, iron tea cettles, buddha statues, armours, palanquins, sword sheaths and many more things that have been used and been exposed to rain, heat and sun. And many have remained in perfect condition until today.
Negoro "Heishi", 13th century
Designs and Sizes?
For the moment the basic collection consists out of three main designs, "Classic", "Bô" and "Kiseru". Classic and Bô are available in three sizes, "Standard", "Medium" and "Long". The Kiseru are available in two sizes, "Standard" and "Medium".
Material for Pen Blanks?
All Manu Propria pen bodies are turned from Japanese Ebonite, made by Nikko Ebonite Co Tokyo, Japan
Nibs
Manu Propria pens are fit with 750/18 kt gold nibs manufactured by Jowo Berlin, Germany.
We offer EF-F-M-B-BB-OM-OB-OBB-L
Customized nibs
Nibs can be customized by us according to the customer's specifications.
Clips
In general there are no pens with traditional clips made. Despite there is a special clip made to be fixed on any place on the pens, they are glued on with urushi lacquer.
Packaging
Manu Propria Pens are delivered in a Pen Case fit to the size of the individual pen. The Pen Cases are manufactured from Paper and Urushi Lacquer, a technique called "Kanshitsu" Dry Lacquer. Available Lacquer finishes are Black Stone °Surface "Kuro-Ishime-ji" or "Negoro"
Roll Stoper
Roll Stoppers are made on demand. Very sought after are the high relief "takamaki" snails. The production of these high relief urushi snails is extremely pain staking and time consuming.
Manu Propria Signature
Since Manu Propria Fountain Pen are unique to other urushi pens in the market they carry no signature. Those who know will know
How many people work at Manu Propria
Manu Propria is a one-man company and all works, turning the barrel, cap and section, nib adjustment and urushi lacquering, are executed by Martin Pauli
Sustake-Bamboo
Susutake bamboo is known as smoked bamboo. Thats because in rural Japan, after long years of sitting above a slowly burning stove, the bamboo darkens into a beautiful honey brown color - dark underneath, with a lighter brown facing upward. It also has a patinated, aged and antique appearance giving it unique appeal. Due to the long 'curing' process, the bamboo becomes very tough and stable.
The surface is "sealed" and toned with urushi lacquer, with a process known as "fuki-urushi" in which raw urushi "ki-urushi" is rubbed into the surface, wiped off and dried for 24 hours, several times over. Every SUSUTAKE fountain pen is just that little bit different from the last due to the fact that the bamboo grain is different and each piece is wholly hand made. Also each pen feels and performs a little differently. The ends of the cap and the barrel pieces are made from ebonite.
The surface is "sealed" and toned with urushi lacquer, with a process known as "fuki-urushi" in which raw urushi "ki-urushi" is rubbed into the surface, wiped off and dried for 24 hours, several times over. Every SUSUTAKE fountain pen is just that little bit different from the last due to the fact that the bamboo grain is different and each piece is wholly hand made. Also each pen feels and performs a little differently. The ends of the cap and the barrel pieces are made from ebonite.
Individual Signatures
Pens can be individually signed by maki-e technique
Other Urushi Works
Beside of pens I am doing various other urushi works, such as Watches, Tone Arms, Brooches, Cuff Links, Ceramics, dry lacquer Tsubas and many other things. More information on these works: http://www.angularmomentum.com