The Pelikan M1000 Maki-e Heavenly Maidens of Dunhuang was released in 2006 as the 9th edition in Pelikan's prestigious Maki-e series, limited to just 88 pieces worldwide. Hand-crafted by celebrated maki-e master Yoshihiro Ishikura, this pen is a rare convergence of Japanese lacquer artistry and the ancient visual heritage of the Silk Road.
Design Inspiration
The design draws from the magnificent Buddhist murals of the Mogao Caves at Dunhuang — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the greatest repositories of Buddhist art in the world. Two Heavenly Maidens are depicted on the pen body, each adorned in flowing feathered robes (hagoromo) and playing musical instruments as they float through the heavens. In ancient tradition, the Heavenly Maiden is a symbol of auspiciousness, grace, and divine blessing.
Maki-e Lacquer Artistry
The pen is executed in Niku-ai Maki-e (flesh-blending maki-e), a technique that achieves seamless gradations of tone and depth by blending lacquer layers with extraordinary subtlety. The overall composition is built on a black lacquer base with gold powder accents, giving the figures a warm luminosity that evokes the golden glow of candlelit cave murals.
