Unlike Europe, the Far East has always preferred the brush for the art of fine writing – and, whereas with us calligraphy is the province of a tiny minority, over there it's widely practised, with colour also playing an important role. This also means that prices are reasonable – it is not only professionals that use calligraphic instruments, but there is a good market for the ordinary person too. The pens we offer here are made by Platinum, a well-known Japanese firm: they use water-based inks, making them suitable for water-colours, too. They can be washed out with water if the ink gets dry, and are refillable.