Nakaya’s Piccolo Cigar in String-Rolled Heki-tamenuri utilizes the compact shape of the Piccolo model to show off the rich, brownish-green finish. The same shade of thread wrapped around the cap and barrel provides an interesting textural element amidst the smooth Urushi lacquer.

The Nakaya Piccolo Cigar String-Rolled Heki-tamenuri fountain pen is handcrafted from ebonite and Urushi lacquer, and comes standard with solid gold 14k nib in your choice of tipping size.

The double slit Music nib is available at an added premium, as are plated nibs in Pink Gold, Rhodium, Ruthenium, or Two-Tone.

Not only does the string wrapping process add an aesthetic look to this fountain pen, but it also serves a functional purpose by strengthening the area around the cap and barrel edges. String wrapping has a long history as a decorative art in Japan – tsukamaki, for instance, is the art of sword handle wrapping.

This Nakaya fountain pen is made of hand-turned ebonite hard rubber that is meticulously coated with Urushi, a material made from the sap of a Japanese lacquer tree. The process of collecting the Urushi and applying many layers of lacquer to this fountain pen takes a minimum of three months or more to complete. In this string-rolled model fine string is embedded in the urushi lacquer, then given coats of this red natural resin.

As with all tamenuri pens, the color of the Piccolo Cigar String-Rolled Heki-tamenuri fountain pen will shift with time and use, eventually giving way to lighter green hues. Because this is a handmade writing instrument, colors will vary slightly from pen to pen – no two will ever be exactly alike.

Nakaya pens can be filled with bottled ink using the provided converter, and can also use Platinum brand cartridges. Hand-painted Maki-e converters are also available.