‘牡丹’ BOTAN

The peony, or 牡丹 (Botan) in Japanese, is more than just a flower; it's a cultural icon representing beauty, prosperity, and strength. Revered as the "King of Flowers," the peony has significant symbolism. In Japanese culture, it became a favored motif for art and design due to its association with riches, honor, and nobility.

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ARTISANAL CRAFTSMANSHIP

The '印傳' Inden Scar: Botan horological leather strap is a union of two centuries-old artistry techniques — Japanese INDEN:印傳 Urushi and Anticatura Patina.

The INDEN portion of the strap is created by combining Japanese deer leather with hand-applied urushi lacquer. Popular during the Sengoku period (1467-1603) as part of samurai armorware, this centuries-old technique is now applied to create what is perhaps one of the most unique horological leather straps today. The INDEN Urushi leather features the unique properties of urushi lacquer - becoming glossier and achieving a slight patina over time. It is extremely time-consuming to create and cure INDEN with only a limited number of sheets can be made each year. The deer leather is sustainably sourced from official local breeders in the western Japan and is produced in limited quantities.

The Anticatura Patina portion of the strap is crafted from supple calf leather, which is hand-dyed using the anticatura patina technique, bringing an additional level of character and refinement to horological leather. Patina must be hand-applied and hand-rubbed to create the desired effect. From the precise stitching to the flawless burnishing finish, each element of the Anticatura Patina reflects true artisanal craftsmanship. This unique patina takes on its own character, such that no two horological leathers are the same.

The two pieces of leather are stitched and bound together by hand, with our signature hand-made cross stitch. Each stitch exemplifies our dedication and respect for tradition as we reinvent traditional Edo-period Japanese artforms into new avant-garde aesthetics.

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Hand-made Construction Complexity

The new INDEN SCAR pushes the limits of what's possible in the construction of fine horological leathers. Apart of the time and effort that is needed to to create the INDEN deer and Anticatura Patina calf leather portions of the strap, the thickness of every single strap must be adjusted (hand-splicing) and then individually matched because deer and calf leathers have vastly different thicknesses. A unique cross-stitch is then made by hand, before finishing the underside with a thin piece of supple calf.

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Hiroshige Script & Katana Cut

All HIROSHIGE straps are engraved with legendary Ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige’s original handwritten poem from the original artwork ca. 1840 in our collection. The poem is loosely translated as: 'The moon indulges into the night in various ways.'

The ends of the strap are hand cut with a shape reminiscent of the ends of a katana blade. This not only provides an iconic look that is unmistakably Hiroshige, but allows for easier entry into strap guides when worn.

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Made By A Certified Master Craftsman

HIROSHIGE INDEN is made by a certified master craftsman from start to finish. It was originally created as a material for samurai armor, however as battles came to an end, the technique translated into fine crafts for nobility.

Because Japanese urushi is sensitive to temperature, humidity, and other seasonal factors, it requires many skills to apply evenly. Today, there are only five other 'master' level craftsmen in all of Japan that can create good INDEN.