{"product_id":"kobaien-prewar-koboku-toryumon-ko-mark","title":"Kobaien Pre-War Sumi 'Tōryūmon' with Pre-1938 Kō Mark Seal","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn early-Showa oil-soot ink stick by Kobaien, still bearing the 'kō' mark seal of the Japan brush, ink and inkstone producers' federation, a seal used only before 1938.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 'kō' (公) seal dates this stick to the early Showa era. That makes it more than eighty years old, the kind of true koboku that calligraphers seek for its settled glue and soft, layered tones. Kobaien has made Nara ink since 1577. The moulded name 'Tōryūmon' (Dragon Gate) refers to the carp that leaps the falls and becomes a dragon, a long-standing emblem of success in study. The shop lists it as standard grade No. 10 oil-soot ink.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaker: Kobaien (古梅園), Nara\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eName: 登龍門 (Tōryūmon)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDate: early Showa, with the kō mark seal used before 1938\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eType: oil-soot ink (油煙墨), standard grade No. 10\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSize: 2 × 8.3 × 1.3 cm; 26 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBox: none stated; shipped in protective packaging\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCondition: vintage; please see photos\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWatch: sumi ink being made at Kobaien, Nara\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA calligraphy channel visits Kobaien in Nara to film its traditional handmade sumi ink production. (Not this specific piece.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin-bottom:1.5em;\"\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/8iZQR0VWIts?rel=0\" title=\"sumi ink being made at Kobaien, Nara\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0;\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePlease read before ordering\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOne of a kind.\u003c\/strong\u003e We confirm availability with the dealer in Japan within one business day of your order; if it has sold we refund in full immediately.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShips from New Jersey in 2–3 weeks. Price includes all import duties. Fully insured, signature required.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Kobaien (古梅園)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67648277807472,"sku":"ME-KOBAIEN-PREWAR-KOBOKU-TORYUMON-KO-MAR","price":339.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1042\/2940\/5040\/files\/8e90a8f13441beb2828ff3dfd25a4465.jpg?v=1791329615","url":"https:\/\/meridianeast.co\/products\/kobaien-prewar-koboku-toryumon-ko-mark","provider":"Meridian East","version":"1.0","type":"link"}