Festive ?

It seems somehow appropriate (and very festive) that as we wait for the deer skin size consolidant to harden on the friable pigment (also see "Lucky''  blog from August 2010) that reindeer are everywhere........

All the pigments have been tested for sensitivity to water and where pigments seemed unstable a dilute solution was very carefully applied. It was warmed before use to decrease the viscosity and to aid penetration into the pigment layer. This has now to be left to harden naturally before being tested again to see if further applications are necessary. The layers of backing papers can then be safely removed. This is necessary as we need to support the deep rolling creases which have developed over the many years of handling by enthusiastic Ogre hunters.

We still prefer the traditional techniques as they work so well and have proved to be very effective over many hundreds of years. There have been various modern synthetic chemicals tried for consolidation and although ruthlessly efficient these have often proved to discolour over time. They are also impossible to remove. So, deer skin size (nikawa) it is......

This Christmas show someone you really care .....with the gift of a handcrafted lacquer fountain pen featuring our favorite Ogre - Shoten Doji !!!





















It might prove though to be a stern test of your affections as  they are currently $22,000  !!!!!

Finally, Restorient would like to wish all the followers of this blog Seasons Greetings and our very best for 2013.