The Nino Marino Signature Parthenope Maki-e – Il canto di due mari (The Song of Two Seas) is an extraordinary fountain pen created to celebrate the meeting of two ancient cultures: the refined Japanese art of maki-e and the vibrant soul of Naples, the legendary city of the siren Parthenope. Where the Mediterranean meets the timeless traditions of Japan, a true masterpiece of writing art is born.

Created to mark Nino Marino’s 50th anniversary in the world of fine artisanal writing instruments, this exceptional piece is a tribute to half a century of passion, creativity, and craftsmanship. Designed in Italy and meticulously crafted in Japan, it honors the vision that helped make the Delta name admired by fountain pen enthusiasts around the world.

Inspired by Parthenope, the mythical siren who founded Naples, this pen embodies beauty, mystery, and harmony. Each fountain pen is hand-decorated in Japan by master artisans using the ancient maki-e lacquering technique. Gold and silver powders are delicately applied to fresh urushi lacquer, then patiently cured and polished to reveal a luminous design with remarkable depth—capturing the siren’s eternal grace in shimmering detail.

The pen body is crafted from natural, hand-turned ebonite, a noble material prized for its warmth and balance. Completing the design are rare Mediterranean blue pearly celluloid accents, a poetic homage to the sea and to timeless Italian elegance. Every detail reflects the encounter between East and West, legend and craftsmanship, ink and sea.

Maki-e is one of Japan’s most prestigious decorative arts, traditionally reserved for the finest objects. Each pen requires more than six months of dedicated craftsmanship, involving multiple meticulous stages: the design is traced in wet urushi lacquer, gold and silver powders are applied using specialized tools, and the surface is carefully cured, polished, and finished through successive steps to achieve depth, brilliance, and precision. The result is never simply decorated—it is alive with texture and light, and each pen is a unique, hand-finished work of art.

Technical Specifications
Body: Hand-turned natural ebonite
Accents: Mediterranean blue pearly celluloid
Decoration: Japanese maki-e with gold and silver powders over urushi lacquer
Length (closed): 140 mm
Length (posted): 158 mm
Maximum diameter: 17.8 mm
Weight: 34 g

The Nino Marino Signature Parthenope Maki-e is not merely a writing instrument—it is an exceptionally rare collector’s fountain pen and a symbol of timeless beauty and cultural harmony. Created for true connoisseurs, it stands as a refined tribute to the art of writing, where two seas and two traditions meet in perfect balance.

About Delta Pens
Delta Pens, the Southern Italian company established in 1982, became renowned for elegant, high-quality designs and distinctive materials. After closing in 2017, the brand was re-established in 2022 with Nino Marino, continuing its tradition of sophisticated luxury writing instruments. Delta pens come with a limited lifetime warranty; warranty information is included with each Delta pen.