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Description
Montegrappa Kitcho Noh Masks Limited Edition Fountain Pen - Woman
Love, longing and fury, captured in lacquer. The Montegrappa Kitcho Noh Masks Limited Edition Fountain Pen, Woman brings the masks of Japan's ancient Noh theatre to life in hand-applied urushi lacquer and raised maki-e by the Kyoto masters of Zohiko, set against sterling silver crafted in Italy by Montegrappa.
This is the Woman edition, devoted to the Onna-men, the female masks of Noh, and it is one of only eight pieces made in the world. The Montegrappa Kitcho Noh Masks Woman fountain pen combines centuries-old Japanese lacquer art with Italian pen-making, an 18K gold nib and a piston filling system. The Woman pen is as much a sculpture as a writing instrument.
Key highlights
- Brand: Montegrappa, Italy, with Zohiko, Kyoto
- Collection: Kitcho Noh Masks
- Design: Woman (Onna-men)
- Colours: Red & Silver
- Decoration: urushi lacquer, taka-maki-e with gold and silver dust
- Metal: sterling silver 925 with enamel
- Nib: 18K gold, EF, F, M, B, Stub 1.1
- Filling: piston filler
- Edition: limited to 8 pieces
Noh: Japan's oldest theatre
Noh, Japan's oldest surviving theatre, has combined music, dance and drama since the fourteenth century. The principal actor wears a carved wooden mask, designed so that its expression seems to change with the tilt of the head: lowered, a face can look sorrowful; raised, the same face can seem to smile.
The Woman masks (Onna-men)
In Noh, the women's masks carry some of the most powerful stories on the stage: tales of love, devotion, jealousy and grief. The Woman edition draws on three of them. Magojiro is the image of youthful feminine beauty, a serene, gentle face said to have been modelled on a carver's late wife. Hashihime, the maiden of the bridge, is a woman consumed by jealousy, caught between sorrow and rage.
The third is Hannya, perhaps the most famous mask of all, a woman whose passion and resentment have turned her into a horned spirit. On this pen the Hannya is picked out in two-tone 18K gold, so it gleams from the lacquer.
Montegrappa meets Zohiko
The Kitcho Noh Masks pens are a collaboration between Montegrappa, Italy's oldest pen maker, founded in 1912 in Bassano del Grappa, and Zohiko, the Kyoto lacquer house founded in 1661 whose work has long been associated with the Japanese Imperial Court. Zohiko's artisans decorate each barrel by hand in urushi lacquer, building up the masks in taka-maki-e, the raised form of maki-e, made from many layers of lacquer sprinkled with gold and silver dust. No two pieces are ever exactly the same.
Kitcho: a lucky omen
Kitcho means a lucky omen, and the pen itself is full of Japanese symbols of good fortune. The sterling silver cap carries a bamboo texture, a symbol of strength and resilience. The clip takes the triangular shape of the suehiro, the opening fan that represents growing success, and is worked with uzu, the swirling vortex motif of vitality, power and prosperity. The wave-shaped finial is a wish for lasting peace, and eight, a lucky number in Japan, sets the size of each edition.
The colours of the Woman edition
The Woman pen is dominated by deep red and silver. Red has long been associated with women's roles and with passion in Japanese theatre costume, and here it frames the pale faces of the masks so that they seem to glow. The silver dust in the maki-e and the sterling silver cap, clip and finial give the design a cool brilliance that balances the warmth of the red.
Writing with the Kitcho
Beneath the artistry, the Montegrappa Kitcho Noh Masks Woman fountain pen is a serious writing instrument, with an 18K gold nib in Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad or Stub 1.1, a piston filler and a screw cap. At about 151mm capped, 18.5mm across and 116g, the Woman pen feels substantial and is best used unposted, its weight letting the nib glide with almost no pressure.
Filling the piston
The pen uses a piston filling system, so there is no cartridge or converter to buy. To fill it, turn the end of the barrel to lower the piston, dip the nib completely into the ink bottle, then turn the end back slowly to draw ink up into the barrel. Release a drop back into the bottle, then wipe the nib with a soft tissue.
Ink recommendations
To echo the red lacquer of the Woman edition, we suggest these Montegrappa inks:
- Montegrappa Bordeaux: a deep, wine-coloured red for elegant correspondence
- Montegrappa Red: a vivid red that mirrors the barrel
- Montegrappa Black: a classic black for formal writing
- Montegrappa Fuschia: a bold, feminine pink for journalling
Prefer something else? Browse our full range of Montegrappa inks or all fountain pen ink bottles.
Caring for a maki-e pen
A hand-lacquered pen deserves a little extra care. Keep it capped when not in use and store it in its box or a soft, individual pen sleeve, away from direct sunlight, heat and humidity. Wipe the lacquer only with a soft, dry cloth; never use polishes, solvents or alcohol, and keep it away from rings, keys and other hard objects that could scratch the surface. A silver cloth, used on the metal parts only, restores the sterling silver's shine.
Who it is for
The Woman edition is for collectors of Japanese art, lovers of theatre and literature, and anyone moved by stories of love and passion. It is also an extraordinary piece for a collector of maki-e pens, bringing together Italian pen-making and one of Kyoto's most celebrated lacquer houses in a single object.
A gift worth giving
A pen of this rarity is the kind of gift that marks a lifetime achievement: a retirement, a milestone anniversary, the founding of a company or a gift between collectors. It arrives in its original Montegrappa presentation packaging with the international warranty card, and it is an heirloom to be handed down through generations.
Pair it with good paper
To get the most out of your writing, pair it with good paper. Smooth, coated papers keep lines crisp and stop ink from feathering, while thicker paper reduces show-through on the reverse side. Browse our notebooks and writing pads to find the right paper for your pen.
Full specifications
| Brand | Montegrappa (Italy), lacquer by Zohiko (Kyoto, Japan) |
| Collection | Kitcho Noh Masks |
| Model | fountain pen, limited edition |
| Design | Woman (Onna-men) |
| Colours | Red & Silver |
| Barrel and cap | acrylic resin with urushi lacquer and taka-maki-e, sterling silver 925 with enamel |
| Trim | sterling silver |
| Nib | 18K gold |
| Nib sizes | Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, Stub 1.1 |
| Filling | piston filler |
| Ink capacity | about 1.06ml |
| Cap | screw cap, not postable |
| Length | 151mm capped |
| Diameter | 18.5mm |
| Weight | about 116g |
| Edition | 8 pieces worldwide for this design |
| Origin | Italy |
| Packaging | original Montegrappa packaging with international warranty card |
Explore more
Discover the other masks in the series and more exceptional limited editions:
- Montegrappa Kitcho Noh Masks Fountain Pen, Demon
- Montegrappa Kitcho Noh Masks Fountain Pen, Deity
- Montegrappa limited edition fountain pens
- Montegrappa fountain pens
- All Montegrappa
- Limited edition fountain pens from every brand
- Sailor King of Pens Noh Hagoromo Limited Edition
Frequently asked questions
How many Woman pens were made?
Only eight Woman fountain pens were made, and twenty-four across the whole collection.
Which masks appear on the Woman edition?
The design draws on the Noh masks Magojiro, Hashihime and Hannya, with the Hannya highlighted in two-tone 18K gold.
Who decorated the Montegrappa Kitcho Noh Masks Woman fountain pen?
Zohiko of Kyoto lacquered the Woman masks by hand; Montegrappa crafted the pen in Italy.
What filling system does the Montegrappa Kitcho Noh Masks Woman fountain pen use?
The Woman pen is a piston filler, so you fill it straight from an ink bottle.
Which nib sizes are available for the Montegrappa Kitcho Noh Masks Woman fountain pen?
The Woman pen is offered in Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad and Stub 1.1, all in 18K gold.
How heavy is the Montegrappa Kitcho Noh Masks Woman fountain pen?
The Woman pen weighs about 116g and is best used unposted.
How should I care for the Woman lacquer?
Wipe the Woman pen only with a soft, dry cloth and keep it away from heat, sunlight and solvents.
Why buy from Makoba?
- 100% genuine: Only authentic products, backed by the manufacturer's warranty where applicable
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Technical Specification
Title
Montegrappa Kitcho Noh Masks Limited Edition Fountain Pen - Woman
Brand
Montegrappa
Collection
Kitcho Noh Masks
Product Origin
Italy
Product Type
Fountain Pen
Nib Material
18K Gold
Nib Size
Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, Stub 1.1
Trim
Sterling Silver
Colour
Red & Silver
Cap & Barrel
Resin, Enamel, Sterling Silver 925
Cap Mechanism How to remove the cap of the pen when its closed.
Screw-cap
Ink Capacity - Converter
1.06ml
Ink Filling Mechanism
Piston Filler
Diameter
18.5mm
Postable Can the cap be put on the back of the pen to make it longer.
No
Length When Closed
151mm
Total Weight The total weight of the pen including the cap and barrel. The pen is not filled with ink when measuring this.
116g
Warranty
As per International warranty guidelines provided by Montegrappa Italy
Packaging
Original brand packaging with International warranty card
Customer Reviews
FAQ’s
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We do accept returns and refunds. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Product has to be in an unused condition with all its tags, warranty certificates and user manuals (if any) in tact.
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- Consumables like inks, refills and paper products cannot be returned or exchanged.
- For more information on returns and (or) refunds, check out our return / refund policy.
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Every order creates an adrenaline rush in our team so any order received before 1PM will usually be shipped on the same day itself. However, due to unforeseen circumstances if we are not able to get your ready, rest assured we will ship it the next day. For more information on shipping, check out our shipping policy section.
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Choosing a fountain pen nib
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