A unique set of twelve original Japanese Namiki pens from the Alfred Dunhill Archive are to be sold at Bonhams Distinguished Design sale in London on 30 November. The set is estimated at £100,000-150,000.
The barrels of the pens date from the 1920s when the techniques which make dunhill-Namiki pens so special and valuable were developed. This set is, therefore, of great historical interest. They have been totally reconditioned and new caps added.
In 1925, Namiki patented a process to apply lacquer to the bodies of pens to protect against scratches. The following year, by applying the ancient Japanese art of Maki-e, they were able to dust precious metals into wet lacquer to make the pens we know today.
A trial of the pens in the Dunhill boutique in Paris sold under the brand name, dunhill-Namiki was so successful that in 1930 an official partnership was established between Namiki and Dunhill giving the later global distribution rights for the pens.
As well as the set of historic pens, the sale also features twelve individual dunhill-Namiki pens including the beautifully decorated Emperor ‘Turtle’ pen inspired by the Japanese folk tale, “Urashima Taro” and the striking Emperor ‘Kingfisher’ pen which draws on ancient Japanese haiku poems. Both pens are estimated at £45,000-55,000 each
