Nakaya Desk Fountain Pen & Stand - Kuro-Tamenuri

The Nakaya Desk Fountain Pen & Stand - Kuro-Tamenuri pairs Nakaya's elongated ebonite desk pen with a matching urushi-finished stand, creating a writing set intended to remain ready at the desk rather than travel in a case. The long taper of the pen, the upright trumpet of the stand, and the deep kuro-tamenuri finish give the set a quiet visual presence that is closely tied to Nakaya's traditional approach to hand-finished writing instruments.

Craftsmanship & Design

The pen is formed from ebonite and finished by hand in urushi, a combination that allows Nakaya to keep the body light while building visual depth through successive lacquer layers. The matching stand extends that same material language into the desk environment. Its circular base measures approximately 4 inches in diameter and about 3/4 inch high, while the trumpet rises approximately 4-1/2 inches.

Unlike a conventional capped pen stored horizontally, a desk pen is designed around immediate access. The elongated tail improves balance and visual proportion when the pen is removed from the stand, while the dedicated trumpet gives the instrument a fixed resting place between uses.

The Art of Kuro-Tamenuri

Kuro-tamenuri is one of Nakaya's most recognizable urushi finishes. The surface can appear nearly black across its broader areas, but deep red becomes visible along edges, transitions, and points where the translucent upper lacquer reveals more of the underlying color. That gradual reveal is central to the appeal of tamenuri: the finish is defined by depth and changing visibility rather than by one uniform hue.

For collectors, kuro-tamenuri is especially compelling because the color relationship is structural to the lacquer itself. The red is not painted on as an accent. It exists beneath the darker upper layers and becomes visible where the finish allows light to pass differently through the surface.

Writing Experience & Provenance

The 14k Medium nib is finished in ruthenium plating and was reground, repolished, and adjusted by nib specialist John Mottishaw to approximately a 0.4 mm italic stub. The modification gives the nib a more defined difference between vertical and horizontal strokes than a standard round Medium while retaining a practical line width for regular writing.

That nib work adds a meaningful layer of provenance to the set. Rather than being simply a factory-configured Nakaya, this example combines Nakaya's urushi craftsmanship with a documented specialist nib modification, making the writing character part of the individual history of the pen.

Collector Perspective

The matching stand materially changes the way the pen is experienced. It turns the writing instrument into a permanent desk object and allows the kuro-tamenuri finish to remain visible even when the pen is not in use. With the original packaging retained for both the pen and stand, the set preserves the intended relationship between the writing instrument and its presentation piece.

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Nakaya
• Model: Desk Fountain Pen with Matching Stand
• Finish: Kuro-Tamenuri Urushi
• Body Material: Ebonite
• Nib: 14k Gold Medium - Ruthenium-Plated
• Nib Modification: Approx. 0.4 mm Italic Stub by John Mottishaw
• Filling System: Cartridge Converter
• Stand Base: Approx. 4 in Diameter x 3/4 in High
• Stand Trumpet: Approx. 4-1/2 in High
• Country of Origin: Japan
• Condition: New Old Stock - With Original Boxes