Patek Philippe: Japanese Rare Handcrafts Collection

anaroku · 2023-07-20T00:31:31Z

Explore the intersection of Patek Philippe and Japanese Rare Handcrafts. Anaroku shares insights into KOGEI, Terumasa Ikeda, and Yasuyuki Namikawa's artistry.

Anaroku's post delves into the exquisite world of Japanese traditional handicrafts, or KOGEI, as featured in the latest Patek Philippe magazine. This exploration highlights the profound artistic traditions that resonate with the meticulous craftsmanship found in haute horlogerie, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of cultural artistry and luxury watchmaking.

In the latest issue (V5) of PP magazine, I am very happy that more content that I like is featured more than usual. Among them, the article introducing Kanazawa, Japan’s leading handicraft town, was impressive to me. This is the work of Terumasa Ikeda, a young contemporary lacquer and mother-of-pearl artist living in Kanazawa.

Japanese handicrafts (KOGEI) have hundreds of years of tradition. In the latter half of the 19th century, when the samurai society came to an end, craftsmen who had been making arms until then changed jobs to crafts to earn foreign currency, and many famous items went abroad.

Wired cloisonne is one of them, and Yasuyuki Namikawa’s work, which is particularly popular, is very splendid. You can see and shoot the beauty that cannot be expressed within the constraints of the size of the dial.

Key Points from the Discussion

The Patek Philippe 5016P, despite its 36mm size, wears remarkably well on the wrist and is considered a true horological marvel, featuring significant complications like a perpetual calendar and minute repeater.
Japanese handcrafts like Maki-e, Chinkin, and wired cloisonné, often seen in items such as Namiki fountain pens, share an aesthetic appeal with luxury watches, demonstrating a broader appreciation for intricate, traditional artistry.
The Patek Philippe 5016P is a highly sought-after reference, with collectors feeling fortunate to acquire such a piece, underscoring its rarity and desirability within the collecting community.
Beyond the specific examples of lacquer and cloisonné, other Japanese art forms like woodcuts and Chinkin accessories also represent beautiful and highly valued works of art.

The Discussion

watch-guy.com

Jul 20, 2023

Beauty personified. Lovely marriage of the arts and horology. You have nailed it!

anaroku

Jul 20, 2023

Thank you I'm honored to hear that

patrick_y

Jul 20, 2023

Exquisite pieces...

Also, Maki-e, woodcuts (Steve Jobs favorites), and Chinkin accessories are also very Japanese and very beautiful works of art as well.

anaroku

Jul 20, 2023

As expected Patrick! "Did you know about Makie?"

patrick_y

Jul 20, 2023

Fountain Pens!

I've been collecting fountain pens for 25 years - mainly starting out with Montblanc. And I first heard about Maki-e with elaborately painted Namiki-brand fountain pens. I saw these pieces and found them to be extremely beautiful. And I researched more about this art and other similar Japanese arts like the ones you mentioned, chinkin, and more... I found that I liked the Japanese aesthetic as an art form. Thus, I have a small interest in Japanese handcrafts. I especially like your octagonal box

anaroku

Jul 20, 2023

I see, so that fountain pen was the start? I am glad that you understand Japanese aesthetics.

Patek Philippe: Japanese Rare Handcrafts Collection

Key Points from the Discussion

Continue the conversation