SKU: 25990882423

Stipula East Meets West Limited Edition Maki-e Snake Ballpoint Pen #10/10

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Description

Stipula East Meets West Limited Edition Maki-e Snake Ballpoint Pen #10/10The Stipula East Meets West Limited Edition Maki e Snake Ballpoint Pen represents a rare and ambitious collaboration between two traditions that have shaped the history of fine craftsmanship for centuries. Built upon Stipula's iconic Etruria platform and adorned with hand executed artwork by Japanese maki e artist Nishihara, this extraordinary writing instrument serves as a meeting point between Italian penmaking and traditional Japanese lacquer

The Stipula East Meets West Limited Edition Maki-e Snake Ballpoint Pen represents a rare and ambitious collaboration between two traditions that have shaped the history of fine craftsmanship for centuries. Built upon Stipula's iconic Etruria platform and adorned with hand-executed artwork by Japanese maki-e artist Nishihara, this extraordinary writing instrument serves as a meeting point between Italian penmaking and traditional Japanese lacquer artistry. Produced as an individually numbered limited edition, this example is numbered 10/10, making it the final piece within the documented production run.

While many limited editions borrow visual inspiration from foreign artistic traditions, the East Meets West collection pursued something more meaningful. Rather than simply referencing Japanese aesthetics, Stipula partnered with a Japanese artist and incorporated authentic urushi and maki-e techniques into the creation of the pen itself. The result is a writing instrument that occupies a unique place within modern pen collecting, appealing equally to enthusiasts of Italian luxury pens and collectors of Japanese decorative arts.

Craftsmanship & Design

The foundation of the pen is a richly polished urushi lacquer surface whose depth and warmth immediately distinguish it from conventional resin finishes. For centuries, urushi has been regarded as one of Japan's most revered artistic materials, prized for its ability to create extraordinary visual depth while developing character through age and handling. The deep black lacquer provides a dramatic backdrop for the artwork, allowing the decorative elements to emerge with remarkable contrast and clarity.

Wrapped around the barrel is Nishihara's interpretation of the serpent, rendered through traditional maki-e techniques. Rather than appearing as a static illustration, the snake coils dynamically around the pen's surface, creating a sense of movement that guides the eye along the contours of the Etruria form. Individual scales are built through carefully layered metallic powders, producing texture, dimensionality, and subtle shifts in reflection that reveal themselves gradually under changing light.

Close examination reveals details that are easily overlooked at first glance. The artwork possesses a depth and complexity characteristic of genuine hand-executed maki-e rather than modern decorative reproduction. Metallic powders appear suspended within the lacquer itself, creating a visual effect that changes continuously depending upon viewing angle and illumination. This interaction between light, lacquer, and precious metal is one of the defining characteristics of traditional Japanese decorative arts and remains extraordinarily difficult to replicate through contemporary manufacturing methods.

The serpent itself carries a long history within East Asian artistic and cultural traditions. Throughout Japanese folklore and decorative art, snakes have been associated with wisdom, renewal, protection, and transformation. Their cyclical shedding of skin made them enduring symbols of rebirth and continual evolution, themes that resonate naturally with an object dedicated to recording ideas, experiences, and personal expression.

The East Meets West Collection

The significance of this pen extends well beyond its decorative motif. The East Meets West collection occupies a distinctive position within Stipula's history because it represented a genuine artistic partnership rather than a simple themed release. The collection explored how traditional Japanese decorative techniques could be integrated into the framework of an established Italian luxury writing instrument without compromising the identity of either tradition.

The Etruria model proved an ideal foundation for this exploration. Named after the ancient Etruscan civilization of central Italy, the Etruria has long been regarded as one of Stipula's most recognizable designs. Its flowing profile, generous proportions, and balanced silhouette provide an exceptional canvas for decorative work while remaining comfortable and functional as a daily writing instrument.

By combining the Etruria platform with authentic urushi and maki-e artistry, the East Meets West collection achieved something that remains uncommon even today. The pens are neither purely Italian nor purely Japanese in character. Instead, they exist within a fascinating space between the two traditions, demonstrating how craftsmanship can transcend geography while preserving cultural authenticity.

Collector Significance

For experienced collectors, the appeal of the East Meets West Snake extends beyond its visual beauty. The collection represents an important moment in the evolution of modern luxury penmaking, arriving before international artisan collaborations became commonplace within the industry. It reflects a period when manufacturers increasingly recognized that writing instruments could serve as legitimate artistic canvases rather than merely functional objects.

This particular example carries additional significance as number 10/10. Final-number examples often attract special attention among collectors due to their position within a production run and their connection to the completion of the edition. Combined with the inherently individual nature of hand-applied maki-e artwork, the pen occupies a uniquely desirable position within an already rare release.

Collectors of Japanese lacquer art appreciate the traditional techniques and artistic execution. Stipula enthusiasts value its place within one of the brand's most distinctive projects. Collectors of rare writing instruments recognize the importance of a documented ultra-low-production collaboration between Italian manufacturing and Japanese decorative arts. Few modern ballpoint pens successfully bridge all three collecting categories with such authenticity.

Writing Experience

Despite its artistic significance, the East Meets West Snake remains a practical writing instrument intended to be used and enjoyed. The ballpoint format provides reliability, convenience, and ease of maintenance, allowing the focus to remain on the experience of ownership and the appreciation of the artwork itself. The substantial Etruria construction creates a reassuring presence in hand while maintaining comfortable balance during extended writing sessions.

The result is a writing instrument that functions equally well as a collector's piece and a daily companion. Like the finest decorative writing instruments, it succeeds because the artistry enhances the experience of use rather than replacing it.

Technical Specifications

  • Brand: Stipula
  • Condition: Mint preowned condition - without box
  • Collection: East Meets West
  • Model Base: Etruria
  • Product Type: Ballpoint Pen
  • Artwork Theme: Snake
  • Artist: Nishihara
  • Decorative Techniques: Urushi Lacquer and Traditional Maki-e
  • Edition Number: 10/10
  • Hand-Finished Artwork
  • Italian and Japanese Collaborative Production
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Exchange/Return Notes
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  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
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SKU: 25990882423

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J.H.K.
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 5
Great features and impressive quality for the price!
Style: R-S202BL, Configuration: receiver only
Got this for my classroom. Not an audiophile by any means and certainly didn't need the latest greatest features (along with accompanying higher cost). For what I paid, $150 on Amazon before sales tax, I'm very impressed with what it offers and can do. Installed it in my classroom today. Connected it to a pair of old Sony bookshelf speakers which I got around 10 years ago. Specifically got this receiver because the old Onkyo I previously used (still working even though it must be from 1980s or 1990s) was unable to handle audio input from my classroom desktop computer even though I had gotten an adapter cable that had a 3.5mm jack on one end and two RCA (red/white) plugs on the other end. Wanted to use the bookshelf speakers instead of the weak external speakers provided by school for whenever I would need audio during a lesson, video clips, etc. to be heard by students at the back of the classroom. After setting up this receiver and putting it through its paces, I am pleased with its overall performance. I connected my classroom's desktop computer to the receiver using that adapter cable previously mentioned and this receiver had no problems at all picking up the signal and transmitting it to my bookshelf speakers. Tried out the radio tuner and was pleasantly surprised by both how clear the sound quality is for many local stations (compared to the Onkyo I had previously been using) and for even decoding signals from distant stations (I'm using a spare cheap external FM radio antenna, not the wire antenna provided with this unit) which the previous Onkyo receiver (and even my car radio) can't pick up clearly if at all. The Bluetooth feature is nice. There's a cheaper version of this receiver without the Bluetooth feature but I decided that the extra $20 was worth it for providing additional possibilities. Had no problem pairing this receiver with my Nexus 6 smartphone. No problems streaming music from my smartphone to the receiver. So far, I've only encountered one problem. I thought about docking one star off for this problem but in the end decided not to do so because the overall functionality and performance of the receiver isn't significantly impaired by this issue. When I first powered up this receiver (after making all the necessary audio connections to speakers and computer), I thought I might have had a defective unit because I couldn't hear anything even though the volume was clearly set at 40 (out of a 0-99 scale). After some trial and error, what I discovered was that any setting below 45 is practically impossible to hear coming out of my speakers. Once I cranked up the volume to 50-55, sound was clearly discernible to anyone near the speakers. From 55-65, sound fills up my entire classroom nicely. From 65-75, it gets loud in my classroom and when I walked out into the hallway (and then continued walking down the hallway) I could hear the sound clearly from several classrooms away. I can only imagine how loud it might be (and how far the sound may travel) if I cranked up the volume beyond 75. So, for all intents and practical purposes, the sound on this unit works but I'm essentially navigating between 45 (quiet) and 80 (really loud) instead of the full range of 0-99. Like I said, functionality and performance doesn't seem to be impaired by this discrepancy, so I ultimately decided not to knock off a star. Not sure if this issue is particular to the specific unit I received or a recurring pattern in more units beyond mine. Not a deal-breaker and not worth going through the hassle of a merchandise exchange since it gets the job done. Looking forward to seeing how well this unit works out for this coming school year (and hopefully for many years beyond). If anything should arise to warrant editing this review, then I'll update as needed.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2016
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Verified Purchase
Amazon Customer
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 5
200 Watts… More Like *2000 Watts!
Style: R-S202BL, Configuration: receiver only
This system is really nice and I mean it! Not a lot of information on this unit but what I can say is this system gets extremely loud to the point where you can lose your hearing from it. There is no distortion from this system even at max volume. I like music loud but this loud is on the next level and this is coming from a guy who has a lot of audio equipment and experience in the audio and FM broadcast industry! The nice thing is FM sounds wonderful on this unit. FM radio sensitivity is just wonderful like a high end receiver or like a good car FM radio. The wire provided to get radio reception wasn’t the best but a good tip is to put the wire next to the speaker wires to act like a ground plane but I highly recommend to get a good FM radio antenna that goes on your roof of your house for superior reception. AND no, the speaker wires don’t interfere with reception!!! I was skeptical due to the lack of information on this Yamaha, but I took that risk. I always knew Yamaha always been a very premium brand for audio and receivers but then you watch videos online about this unit they hate on it for being a cheap system when this isn’t true. This unit is for someone who wants a: Basic Semi Audiophile Stereo (Left and Right Sound) FM Radio, Line In or CD Playback, if you buy the cd reader separate. The video I provide is this stereo shaking my cheap old school 80s 8 inch bookshelf speakers. The only con is no sub out port. Irrelevant information starts here: The setup you see in the video is only temporary as we are remodeling the house and garage this stereo is currently in. Are new house is being currently being built in the country and after are new garage is built I’ll be putting this stereo in there and be setting this up with 2 outdoor Yamaha AW-350s on our back deck by the fire pit and the 2 old school 80s speakers in the garage. (Also a FM antenna mast for extreme FM radio reception.) The idea is the backyard would have good audio for music and are front yard would also get some good ported sound from the garage. Overall me and my family spends a lot of time outdoors no phones and little to no internet time just hanging out listening to music. The reason I am sharing this is because this is what I see a unit like this being used for.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2025
S
Verified Purchase
Strategos
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 1
Weak, Flat, Tinny Sound
Style: R-S202BL, Configuration: receiver only
My Insignia NS-STR514 suddenly died after a year of glorious sound (device still turned on, switch inputs, etc, just no sound), and I had to find another stereo receiver to replace it. Yamaha seemed to be a pretty popular brand, especially among musicians and home theater enthusiasts, so I figured I couldn't go wrong. Wrong. From the minute I hooked this receiver up I noticed a significant drop in power, range, and overall quality. This device is advertised as having the same 100w of power per channel, so this is really surprising for a major brand. I used to have to turn the Insignia up to 20, but this device has to be turned up to 44 to get the same loudness. When you do get this device cranked up enough to hear something, the sound is very flat. There's no other way to describe it. There's no range. Even if bass cranked to max you can barely hear it. The treble is weak, flat, and distorts at high volume. This device is literally making my stereo speakers that cost $300.00 each sound like a boom box from the 90's. I was considering upgrading my turntable to a higher quality one, but now, what's the point? On the flip side, the sound is clean, crisp. But man oh man is it flat. These days I mostly listen to music on high grade headphones and watch movies and streaming on my projector so it's not a huge loss (high fidelity sound on video games and movies isn't a huge deal to me), but don't buy this for your entry-level audiophile needs. There's got to be better options out there than this. The weak bass especially is unforgivable. *Update 04/25/17* My wife finally grew so tired of this piece of junk that I got rid of it and bought another Insignia Stereo Receiver. Unreliable as it is (dead after 2 years) it's still better than this garbage. The bass response is absolutely horrible, and the neighbors started complaining about the "booming". That's pretty much the only bass you get from this device. A loud, cheap-sounding thumping. The frequency response of this device is so poor, and the sound so thin and tinny, that even my wife couldn't stand it! Do yourself a favor and avoid this one.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2017
J
Verified Purchase
James Jeffries
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
Excellent purchase
Style: R-S202BL, Configuration: receiver only
Good looking stereo and everything works perfectly, excellent reception and all the music is very clear at any volume (only went up to 55 out of 99).
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Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2026
B
Verified Purchase
Brooke T
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 5
Great quality wire for any automotive or 12 volt wiring
Size: 16 AWG-100 ft
This GS Power 16 gauge wire is excellent quality for any automotive wiring project. The copper is true OFC pure copper, not copper clad aluminum. It’s flexible, easy to route, and holds up well without the insulation feeling cheap or brittle. I have used it for automotive accessory wiring and some 12V equipment projects and it handled everything perfectly. The wire pulls cleanly, solders well, and the insulation thickness gives it a durable feel without being overly bulky. If you need dependable wire for automotive, marine, RV, audio, or general electrical projects, this is a great buy. I would absolutely purchase it again.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2026

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