Japanese Kamei 'Best' Sculpted Art Glass Vase in Red and White, 1970s, Handblown

Currently held on consignment at Andrews Oakville

This majestically sculpted and handblown work of Japanese art glass is by the glassworks Sanyu, from the 'Narumi Fantasy' series that is characterised by its candy and jewel-like colour palette.

The form is superbly organic with 6 controlled trails of droplets creating a form that is like that of an abstract fountain. A very tactile piece, the curves and arches provide a beautiful prismatic ability. The colour palette of this series only contains the 3 colours of Tourmaline pink, Topaz blue and Citrine yellow and as these tones sweep up the sides of the vase, they are magnified and overlapped in the clear exterior casing creating many additional tones such as peach, green and purple. 

There is a further layer of hidden magic within this piece that becomes apparent when it is placed in the pathway of sunlight and surrounding surfaces light up from the refractions.

The enchanting quality of the captured colours and the uniqueness of being handblown makes this statement piece suitable for display or functionally, as a simply accented Ikebana vase. 

CONDITION
Superb. No chips or cracks or damage, There is mild wear, predominantly movement marks on the underside of the base that is commensurate with age. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 10.3" / c. 26.3 cm tall x c. 5.9" / c. 15 cm diameter (across widest point) Rim opening measurements: c. 3.7" / c. 9.5 cm (across widest point). Base measurements: c. 4.4" / c. 11.3 cm. Unpackaged weight c. 2.3 kg / 2,275 g 

A BIT OF HISTORY
Sanyu Glass Co. is based in Osaka, Japan and has been producing art glass since the 1950s. Similar to other better-known Japanese glassworks of Iwatsu and Hineri, the quality and style are often mistaken for Murano and Czech glass from the same era.

Though knowledge of Japanese glassworks is scarce in Western countries, what is known is that the quality of Japanese art glass from the 1950s to the 1970s rivalled that of Murano, Scandinavian, and Czech glass production. Recognition has been relatively low and most pieces imported into the Western market are often simply marked with the word 'Foreign' or not at all. It is rare to discover pieces with the original glassworks or importing company's label.

Currently held on consignment at Andrews Oakville

This majestically sculpted and handblown work of Japanese art glass is by the glassworks Sanyu, from the 'Narumi Fantasy' series that is characterised by its candy and jewel-like colour palette.

The highly abstract form is superbly organic with multiple streams of interweaving droplets wrapping the exterior, making the piece very tactile and providing a beautifully prismatic ability. The colour palette of this series only contains the 3 colours of Tourmaline pink, Topaz blue and Citrine yellow and as these tones sweep up the sides of the vase, they are magnified and overlapped in the clear exterior casing creating many additional tones such as peach, green and purple. 

There is a further layer of hidden magic within this piece that becomes apparent when it is placed in the pathway of sunlight and surrounding surfaces light up from the refractions.

The enchanting quality of the captured colours and the uniqueness of being handblown makes this statement piece suitable for display or functionally, as a simply accented Ikebana vase. 

CONDITION
Superb. No chips or cracks or damage, There is mild wear, predominantly movement marks on the underside of the base that is commensurate with age. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 11.2" / c. 28.5 cm tall x c. 4.3" / c. 11 cm diameter (across widest point) Rim opening measurements: c. 2.6" / c. 6.5 cm (across widest point). Base measurements: c. 4.3" / c. 11 cm. Unpackaged weight c. 3.2 kg / 3,235 g

A BIT OF HISTORY
Sanyu Glass Co. is based in Osaka, Japan and has been producing art glass since the 1950s. Similar to other better-known Japanese glassworks of Iwatsu and Hineri, the quality and style are often mistaken for Murano and Czech glass from the same era.

Though knowledge of Japanese glassworks is scarce in the Western countries, what is known is that the quality of Japanese art glass during the 1950s to the 1970s rivalled that of Murano, Scandinavian, and Czech glass production. Recognition has been relatively low and most pieces imported into the Western market are often simply marked with the word 'Foreign' or not at all. It is rare to discover pieces with the original glassworks or importing company's label.

Currently held on consignment at Andrews Oakville

This beautifully sculpted and handblown work of Japanese art glass is by the glassworks Sanyu, from the 'Narumi Fantasy' series that is characterised by its candy and jewel-like colour palette.

The form is superbly organic with the 10 lobes of the vase gathered into 5 pairs to create the pleat effect, making the piece very tactile and providing an exceptionally prismatic ability. The colour palette only contains the 3 colours of Tourmaline pink, Topaz blue and Citrine yellow but as these sweep up the sides of the vase, they are magnified and overlapped in the clear exterior casing creating additional tones of green, purple and orange depending on which face of the vase is turned to. 

There is a further layer of hidden magic within this piece that becomes apparent when it is placed in the pathway of sunlight and surrounding surfaces light up from the refractions. 

The enchanting quality of the captured colours and the uniqueness of being handblown makes this statement piece suitable for display or functionally, as a simply accented Ikebana vase. 

CONDITION
Superb. No chips or cracks or damage, There is mild wear, predominantly movement marks on the underside of the base that is commensurate with age. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 9.5" / c. 24 cm tall x c. 5.3" / c. 13.5 cm diameter (across widest point) Rim opening measurements: c. 3.3" / c. 8.5 cm (across widest point). Base measurements: c. 2.8" / c. 7 cm. Unpackaged weight c. 2.2 kg / 2,165 g

A BIT OF HISTORY
Sanyu Glass Co. is based in Osaka, Japan and has been producing art glass since the 1950s. Similar to other better-known Japanese glassworks of Iwatsu and Hineri, the quality and style are often mistaken for Murano and Czech glass from the same era.

Though knowledge of Japanese glassworks is scarce in Western countries, what is known is that the quality of Japanese art glass from the 1950s to the 1970s rivalled that of Murano, Scandinavian, and Czech glass production. Recognition has been relatively low and most pieces imported into the Western market are often simply marked with the word 'Foreign' or not at all. It is rare to discover pieces with the original glassworks or importing company's label.

Discover the intersection of art and design with this Japanese studio work. On prominent display are echoes of Toyo Ito's visionary design ethos, and the evident appreciation for innovative structural and construction approaches. A seamless blend of Postmodern and Brutalist design, the central feature appearing on both sides of the vase is the highly tactile graduated steps in hues of gloss Charcoal overlaid onto the base of pale Sandstone tone. The layout of the steps carries design whispers of Escher and an almost Bionic quality. This is offset and complimented by an equally organic semi-matte Cyberpunk net in the ethereal golden tones resting on the opposing shoulder of the vase. 

A firm statement piece in excellent condition. 

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips or repairs. There are faint movement marks on the underside of the base commensurable with the age of the piece. Please refer to the photos as they form part of the condition report. The body of the vase bears the artist's mark that has yet to be identified. 

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 8.8" / 22.3 cm tall x c. 11" / 28 cm length (across widest point). Depth: c. 3.9" / 10 cm.  Unpackaged weight: c. 1.3 kg / 1,330 g

NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

This exquisitely intricate Cloisonné enamel piece is dated to c.1900 from the Japanese Meiji era (1868-1912 ) Takahara Komajiro 高原駒次郎 of Kyoto.

Takahara is referenced as the most well-known and consistent maker of Kyoto-Jippo (tr. 'Cloisonné') wares, founding a workshop in 1894. The Cloisonné technique is revered for using thin wire or metal to contain different coloured enamels. The technique in this piece is elevated to astounding heights when you consider the detailed wired sections of this piece is as small as 1mm in width.

This particular piece bears Takahara's design characteristics despite being unsigned; notably within the floral patterns and 'takara-mono' (tr. 'treasured items') featured in the roundels, the wire gilding and the overlapping green scales edged in the band of dotted red circlets brocading the foot of the vase. From delicate sprigs of Sakura Cherry Blossom to Lotuses, Chrysanthemums, Anemones and Moutan Peonies; the Cloisonné with elements of glittering jewelled enamel worked into the colouring is a joyful celebration of flora in bloom.

The 8-lobed form of this piece, its size and the condition of the enamel décor makes this piece a particularly rare find. Not only did Takahara's Cloisonné skill contend with creating the enamel art in minute detail, but it was also applied to the curving form for each of the eight lobes. This fantastic work of art would make a superbly decorative and highly collectable art feature.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks or repairs. There is natural age wear to the enamel and the rim of the vase that is commensurable with the age of the piece, please see photos as part of the condition report.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 6.1" / 15.5 cm by c. 3" / 7.5 cm width (across widest point). Base diameter: c. 1.7" / 4.2 cm. Rim diameter: c. 1.2" / 3.1 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.2 kg / 175 g

NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Japanese Cloisonne enamelware is a technique introduced to Japan around the Tokugawa period during the 16th century.

Cloisonne or 'Cloisonné' are metalwork objects with decoration that is applied by creating separating sections using wire or thin metal. The sections are filled with different coloured enamels to create a visual image or pattern and the whole piece be fired multiple times to realise the colours.

This beautifully sculpted and handblown piece is the work of mid-century Japanese glassworks Sanyu with the iconic Citrine Amber and Emerald Green. This classic Sanyu palette is accentuated with a cradling of rich Lapis Lazuli Blue at the base of the vibrant green. Wrapped around this central well of colour is a diagonal ribbon of alternating gold and silver avventurrine. 

Last but absolutely not least, enveloping the jewel-like colour is the handblown clear crystal casing, shaped with a gentle twist. The highly tactile and undulating form gives this piece a brilliantly prismatic ability. The hidden prismatic magic in this piece is very apparent when it is placed in the pathway of sunlight and surfaces light up from the refractions thrown. 

Whilst the Amber and Green is a common Sanyu colour combination, the addition of the blue, the gold avventurine and the arched form makes this piece a rare find. 

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips or cracks or damage, There is very mild wear of movement marks on the underside of the base that is commensurate with age. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 9" / 23 cm tall x c. 4.7" / 12 cm width (across widest point). Base: c. 2.4" / 6 cm (across widest point). Unpackaged weight c. 1.8 kg / 1,800 g

NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Sanyu Glass Co. is based in Osaka, Japan and has been producing art glass since the 1950s. Similar to other better known Japanese glassworks of Iwatsu and Hineri, the quality and style is often mistaken for Murano and Czech glass from the same era. 

Though knowledge of the Japanese glassworks is scarce in the Western countries, what is known is that the quality of Japanese art glass during the 1950s to the 1970s rivalled that of Murano, Scandinavian, and Czech glass production. Recognition has been relatively low and most pieces imported into the Western market are often simply marked with the word 'Foreign' or not at all. It is rare to discover pieces with the original glassworks or importing company's label.