The rose has been more than just a flower throughout history, and it has been closely associated with England since the War of the Roses, where it served as a household symbol for both the Lancaster and York houses. The Tudor Rose, adapted by Henry VII to symbolize the union between these two houses, marked the beginning of one of the most significant periods of English history, as England emerged from the medieval ages and established itself as a major player on the world stage.

Roses are also highly prized by gardeners worldwide, particularly in traditional English gardens, where they are often showcased in elaborate displays featuring exotic varieties in an overwhelming profusion of colors and types.

An English Rose is unique, seductive, and enchanting, with a romantic fragrance. A walk in an English rose garden on a warm summer evening is among the most memorable experiences life has to offer.

Turning to the Conway Stewart English Rose, it is a breathtaking example of the highest quality Maki-e artwork applied to our classic Churchill fountain pen. Rich light and dark reds softly blended with gleaming layers of gold combine to bring the gently blossoming roses to life against the glossy black background of the cap and barrel.

We are proud to collaborate with the esteemed artisan Mr. Koichiro Okazaki, whose work signature is Kogaku san. Born in 1959, Kogaku san has been the recipient of numerous accolades, including the Kao (his authorized monogram) from Kuda Munenori of Sado Omote School, as well as being featured in several National Urushi related exhibitions. His art is incredibly popular and can be found on a wide range of traditional accessories, including ornamental hairpins and jewelry. People who collect his work on very expensive combs used for decorative purposes greatly admire him. One of his most distinguished works was a Citizen pocket watch that sold for $20,000. Kogaku san's attention to detail is astounding, with some of his art having lines no thicker than a human hair.

Kogaku san paints his work freehand without any outline of design or silk screen process. While 90% of Maki-e artwork currently produced utilizes man-made Urushi lacquer, Kogaku san only uses 100% natural Urushi lacquer, hand-collected from Urushi trees.

The English Rose is crafted using "Taka Maki-e," a technique that involves the application of many thin layers of genuine Urushi lacquer over one another to create slightly raised portions of the design. The individual rose petals are shaded with red and pink Urushi lacquer, then accented with carefully applied gold powder, leaving them with shimmering highlights that dance under the light as the pen is turned in the hand. The leaves are further detailed with gold powder.

The English Rose is a worldwide limited edition of just 25 pieces, each of which carries Kogaku san's signature and the coveted Red Seal signature, signifying the highest level of Maki-e artwork. Each pen is housed in our beautiful lacquer presentation case and comes with our 100-year guarantee and warranty booklet and a limited edition certificate.

The English Rose was featured on the cover of Stylus magazine's June/July 2006 issue, an international publication with a healthy circulation figure in excess of 38,000 per issue. The magazine is distributed through newsstands, bookstores, fine quality pen retailers, specialty boutiques, jewelers, and of course, to subscribers.

See link here to view original publication.