The Metropolitan Museum Of Art Ballpoint Golden Bamboo Ballpoint

The inspiration for this pen was found in an elegant lacquer box, ca. 1800, that is among the decorative arts in the Museum’s holdings. Powdered gold and silver were combined with the lacquer to give the box a delicate tone. The Japanese technique for achieving this effect is known as maki-e. Our pen re-creates the same bamboo design found on the box. Fittingly, bamboo itself is one of the earliest known writing surfaces. Ball pen twists to open and close and takes a standard ballpoint refill.