Top-of-the-line brushes can cost $1,000 ... willing to spend so much just to write? More from So Expensive Once a practical way to transcribe, calligraphy has evolved into a fine art.

When Bryan sees his daughter Alice practicing Japanese calligraphy with a brush and ink, he is struck by how outdated it all seems... When do you need to use a pen nowadays, let alone a brush?!

An curved arrow pointing right. A handmade calligraphy brush, custom made for a master calligrapher, can cost over $1,000. At Hata Bunshindou each brush tip is made by a single artisan.

“I’ve been obsessed with brushes for as long as I’ve been obsessed with makeup,” she says. The result is a collection of nine sleek options, inspired by the artistry of calligraphy brushe ...