The rising sun is a ball of fire, illuminating the dawn in primordial shades of red. A rumbling emanates from the depths of the sea. The Dragon of Good Fortune arises. In the pre-dawn light, its scales reflect golden hues. Its eyes look like beads of coral. Its well-worn wings are almost impossible to discern among the sinuous curves of the Dragon's long body. With a roar, the Dragon lifts itself, and with just a few beats of its wings, defying the conventional laws of physics, the Dragon of Good Fortune flies, bringing good fortune and luck to us all in 2024.
At least, that is one interpretation of the scene on the AP Limited Editions Connoisseur fountain pen on this issue's cover, Dragon of Good Fortune. It is a fountain pen that encapsulates the 18-year-long journey of Anuj and Smita Poddar.
In 2006, Anuj Poddar, along with his wife and AP Limited Editions' co-founder Smita, turned his love of fine pens and Eastern art into a business venture, and a risky one at that: introducing a Western audience to the most refined techniques in Japanese maki-e on the body of an exceptionally crafted fountain pen.
"Launching AP Limited Editions was the natural progress of my passion," Anuj reflects, noting that he spent over two years exploring and experimenting with different techniques and maki-e artisans before launching his brand in February 2006 at the Los Angeles International Pen Show.
This story is from the February 2024 edition of PEN WORLD.
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This story is from the February 2024 edition of PEN WORLD.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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