Namiki Hyoutan Namazu Limited Edition ~ Gourd & CatFish

Namiki Hyoutan Namazu Limited Edition

Symbols of Japanese Objects

"Hyoutan Namazu" or "Gourd & Catfish"is a famous Japanese saying, which means slippery or elusive. The saying oriniates from the old paintings of the Zen riddle, which depicted a man tying to catch a Catfish by using a Gourd. Symbolism is an important attribute in Namiki Hyoutan Namazu™s Gourd & Catfish Limited Edition. The Gourd is a symbol of good fortune and has been used widely as a charm and an amulet of good luck. It was also believed to ward off evil spirits because of its elusiveness. This is made into the shaped of the box that contains the pen. Six gourds, were drawn on the pen as it sounds like Mubyou which means disease-free in Japanese.

For childless couples, the gourd symbolizes a wish to be granted because it has many seeds which means many children. For a businessman, the gourd represents business prosperity with its intertwining vines. Of course, the gourd has the meaning of infinity as the shape is similar to the mathematical sign of infinity. Only 200 pieces are made for this collection in Yukari Royale size. Seiki Chida is the urushi artisan tasked to decorate this pen with togidashi taka maki-e (burnished-raised) and taka maki-e onto the pen. The relief of the Catfish on the body is the highest and the gourd at the centre on the cap is created with platinum powder. The veins of the leaves are decorated with Kakiwari technique in which black lacquer is left over and by the Bokashi (shading off) technique. Highly recommended for one who likes the art of Fengshui, symbols and signs of auspicious nature and good omen. View this pen at Elephant & Coral or sales@elephant-coral.com for more information.