Kobaien 'Hakkaku Oimatsu' Octagonal Old-Pine 8-chō Nara Sumi Ink

An octagonal cake of Kobaien's finest oil-soot ink, moulded with an ancient pine: a classic 'appreciation ink' shape.

Kobaien, founded in Nara in 1577, is the oldest surviving maker of solid sumi in Japan. Nara-zumi is made by kneading soot with animal glue (nikawa), pressing it into carved wooden moulds and drying it slowly for months, and a well-made stick improves for years as the glue settles. Kobaien makes this from rapeseed-oil soot of the finest particle size. The shop notes that it grinds smoothly, giving a glossy, mellow pure black when thick and a deep brown-toned black when diluted, for kanji and kana alike. Octagonal and round cakes like this were traditionally collected and displayed as well as used.

Details

• Maker: Kobaien (古梅園), Nara
• Name: 八角老松 (Hakkaku Oimatsu), 8-chō size
• Type: top-grade rapeseed-oil soot ink (油煙墨)
• Size: 9.0 × 9.0 × 1.5 cm; approx. 130 g
• Box: not specified by the shop; shipped in protective packaging
• Condition: new

Watch: sumi ink being made at Kobaien, Nara

A calligraphy channel visits Kobaien in Nara to film its traditional handmade sumi ink production. (Not this specific piece.)

Please read before ordering

• Limited availability. We confirm availability with the dealer in Japan within one business day of your order; if it has sold we refund in full immediately.
• Ships from New Jersey in 2–3 weeks. Price includes all import duties. Fully insured, signature required.