On the occasion of the 2023 Pelikan Hubs event which came and went just last evening, Pelikan dropped yet another new release and guess what, it’s due out in October. That makes this supersized Maki-e model the fifth release tentatively scheduled for the autumn month. As I recently discussed, it will share space on the calendar with the M600 Glauco Cambon, M600 Red-White, M205 Rose Quartz, and M200 Copper Rose Gold. While the new M1000 Maki-e Dragon will surely add to the surfeit of fall releases, this one shouldn’t be too burdensome as it will be out of reach for most. The new M1000 Maki-e Dragon limited edition follows the 2022 models Snow, Moon, and Flowers as well as the Phoenix. Available only in ultra-limited quantities, the Dragon is expected to command a price commensurate with its grand stature. It strikes me as interesting, and perhaps it’s just a coincidence, that the Dragon follows the Phoenix since Pelikan has already included both creatures on a single past release several years ago. Some of you may recall 2005’s M1000 Maki-e Dragon & Phoenix which was made in a run of just 88 pens. Continue reading to learn all about the newest model from Pelikan to marry Western European design with Far Eastern artistry.
M1000 Maki-e Dragon & Phoenix Limited Edition (2005)
The Dragon, as is the case with most of their prior Maki-e releases, will once again utilize the formidable M1000 chassis. These pens are produced in Germany and then decorated by artisans in Japan. This model is currently slated to arrive sometime in mid-October. Tradition again dictates that just 123 pens will be available for worldwide distribution. Most of their recent Maki-e models have been done with the Togidashi-Taka-Maki-e technique which combines Togidashi-Maki-e with Taka-Maki-e and the Dragon is no exception. For those unfamiliar, the Togidashi technique utilizes multiple layers of Urushi which are repeatedly polished and upon which a design is drawn with colored lacquer. The Taka technique mixes charcoal and gold powders into the lacquer, so that the design is raised above the surface, providing a more tactile feel to the work.
Pelikan’s sales literature states;
“The dragon is a very significant legendary spiritual mythical creature in Chinese mythology, appearing in myths, ornaments, works of art, and architecture of East Asia. The dragon is a powerful symbol and considered to be the source of all the power and is often used as a symbol of Chinese emperors. Dragon summons thunderclouds and storms, becomes a tornado, and rises into the sky and flies freely. It lurks in the abyss in autumn and rises to the heavens in spring.
The ascending dragon heading towards the heavens and the descending dragon from the heavens are favored as auspicious patterns. In particular, since it is said the dragon ascends to the heavens and gets the treasure ball, the descending dragon is depicted holding the treasure ball. It is said that the treasure ball is a sacred jade that can cure diseases, avoid disasters, and make all kinds of wishes come true. On the fountain pen the treasure ball was crafted with Raden technique, using small particles of abalone shell. The dragon is surrounded by the golden lights of the thunderstorm and in the background is the Mount Fuji shown where the thunderstorm began.”
The M1000 Maki-e Dragon features a dragon clutching a Raden orb known as the treasure ball in its claws. The body of the mythical beast fills the barrel with the dragon’s tail extending onto the cap. The dragon is intricately decorated in scales and its fanged face is very expressive with surrounding elements depicting a thunderstorm giving the pen an ethereal feel. In Chinese culture, the dragon symbolizes power, nobleness, honor, luck, and success. Among the Chinese zodiac animals, the dragon is the sole imaginary animal and Chinese element theory associates each zodiac sign with one of five elements. Perhaps it’s not a coincidence that the release of the Dragon dovetails nicely with the upcoming year since 2024 is to be the year of the Wood Dragon which makes this release timely indeed.
Per tradition, the Maki-e M1000 Dragon will come packaged in a gift box made of paulownia wood. It will be fitted from the factory with Pelikan’s standard 18C-750 two-toned gold nib and it will only come in a medium width. The furniture includes a beak clip, two cap bands, two trim rings at the piston knob, and a single trim ring at the section, all plated in 24-karat gold. The cap top displays Pelikan’s logo in a style matching the rest of the pen. This newest M1000 also has a dark green ink view window that sits behind the section. Each pen will be individually numbered and feature the artist’s signature painted by hand. Thanks to the time intensive artistry and the limited numbers produced, the Dragon will command a very high price with a US MSRP of $4,500. Even European pricing can’t take the sting out of this one with an RRP of €5,000 including VAT. I have heard that only 10 pens are targeted for the US market, all of which have already been spoken for.
My personal take is that the Dragon looks to be one of the nicer Maki-e releases to come out since 2020’s Kingfisher. That’s a subjective opinion of course and you are free to disagree. Again, Pelikan’s strategy to overload October with releases baffles me but this one shouldn’t have much of an impact on the average Joe out there. Despite their price tag, these tend to be highly anticipated and much desired pieces which I suspect are sure to sell out, especially a pen as attractive as this. What’s your take on the new M1000 Maki-e Dragon? Which is your favorite Maki-e to come out in the last 8 years? Let me know in the comments section below.
Eight Years of Maki-e M1000s, left to right: Spring & Autumn (2016), Dragonfly (2017), Peacock (2018), Five Lucky Bats (2019), Japanese Umbrella (2019), Kingfisher (2020), Seven Treasures (2021), Snow, Moon, and Flowers (2022), Phoenix (2022), and Dragon (2023)
Lovely fountain pen1 I wonder if Pelikan is trying to release /all/ the pens whose designs they created themselves, prior to the handover to the new owners later this year (or whenever that happens)..
That certainly could be one plausible explanation. We really haven’t seen anything like this before os something seems to be up. Maybe a last attempt at a cash grab or a goodbye present to the Asian market. Who knows.
I think that would create trouble for current management. Although I think that this was already in the plans for a longer time and the new owners surely are familiar with them.
Seems too much of a coincidence — five new designs all released in one month? (love your dog avatar btw). In any case, I have my eye on the M200 Copper Rose Gold 🙂
I do know that the new owners have been on premises and briefed at length about operations so, yes, they are likely familiar with the plans.
It’s a great time to be a Pelikan fountain pen collector!
Thanks for this latest news, Joshua.
Enjoy your weekend!
Rocco
You’re welcome. Happy to keep you informed.
I’d have to agree with you, it’s been awhile since the Kingfisher that Pelikan has come out with a substantial Makie design – both artistically and “volumetrically” on the pen body and cap.
It’s going to be an expensive October for me as this month coincides with the annual Namiki Emperor release as well.
Ouch. October would be costly in that case.
The Dragon has proven to be hard to track down – so my bank balance might be safe for the moment. I hope that your piece will bring you lots of joy. My feeling is that, with the passing of Pelikan’s ownership from the Malaysians back to an European owner – this might be the last of the Makie and Raden lines. I hope that I’m proven wrong, and that the new owners are able to maintain the present relationship with its various Japanese artisan groups.
Hard indeed. This one seemed to be sold before it was announced in many regions. I’m not sure what the fate of the Raden or Maki-e lines will be under the new ownership. Will have to wait and see I guess.
I’ve managed to snag one from a European AD and had a look over it today. I’m quite impressed with Nitta Yoshiaki’s work, and Pelikan’s promotional photos do not do justice to the actual work done, especially the snow capped Mount Fuji. I was glad that Yoshiaki and Pelikan had decided to Makie the company logo on the finial and embellish it with Nashiji-ko. The Pelican and its chick’s eyes are in black urushi as seen under magnification, and the burnish marks are visible under a loupe. I’m really liking this year’s release and I hope you will too.
Pelikan’s Maki-e pieces are always impressive but I suspect the Dragon may be one of the best executions of the concept in recent times. I also agree, photos just aren’t capturing this one to its best effect.
Well it is an impressive pen. But even if one of the 123 were available to me i would not spend €5,000 to own one. There are other priorities… i also think the Kingfisher was the sweetest of the series.
Yes, these are probably the pinnacle of Pelikan’s luxury offerings.
*gasp* what a beauty!
One of the nicest Maki-e pens that I’ve seen personally.
Hmmm…maybe a second mortgage?
You have to pay to play.
His one might just be worth it. Stunning work, and 1000’s are always welcome in my hand 😁👍
Thanks for another informative post. Pelikan seems to understand the Asian market and its luxury merchandise purchasing power. Several of their recent releases have leaned that way. Both in raw demographics of population size and use of fountainpens, it is a large existing market, and the dragons and gold releases are no accidents. Maki-e from major brands are primarily collectors items that once purchased, seem rarely to leave their fancy textile sleeves or see the light of day, let alone see much ink. These are targeted toward specific well-heeled markets.
I don’t disagree with your take. I think that fits with the current luxury market. Pelikan definitely feels like they are catering to a certain audience.