This striking and romantically joyful work of handblown Japanese mid-century art glass is by the glassworks Tajima, who was known to have produced art glass under the label of Best Art Glass.
Elegant and graceful, the curves that shape the 5 lobed 'petals' creates an organic 'unfurling' from the centre. The palette is a striped arrangement of Sakura pink followed by Cobalt blue and Emerald green, handblown into a swirling pattern to create the main featured colouring of the piece. The gem-like tones vary in intensity as they trace every fold and curve of the lobes and finish with an accent of clear glass at the base.
This excellent piece is stylistically timeless making it suitable for standalone display as a centrepiece or functional use.
CONDITION Excellent. There are no chips or cracks, only mild wear on the surface that is commensurable with age. Please refer to the photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base has a concave pontil that is a known finishing touch of Japanese art glass and bears the original label 'Best Art Glass, Foreign' with the 'Foreign' being an indicator of glass imported into the UK during this period.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 8.3" / 21 cm (base to rim) Diameter: c. 5.7" / 14.5 cm (across widest point). Base diameter: c. 2.8" / 7 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1.3 kg / 1,275 g
NOTES Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items
A BIT OF HISTORY Tajima Glassworks Unfortunately, little is known about Tajima Glass. However, it is known that the glass studio was founded in 1956, in Tokyo, Japan, by Matsutaro Tatsuta. They are known for coloured, textured and often mould-blown or hot-worked art glass. Tajima Glass are still operating today. The quality and style of their work are similar to other Japanese glassworks, rivalling and often mistaken for Italian Murano glass and Czech glass from the same period.
Iwatsu Hineri, Sculpted Apricot, Scarlet and Azure Striped Twist Vase, 1960s-70s, Japanese
Regular price£118.00
Save £-118.00
This striking and vibrant work of mid-century handblown art glass is of Japanese art glass design and by the glassworks Iwatsu, who were also known to have produced art glass under the labels of Hineri and Art Glass.
Graceful and organic, the central twist to the vase creates ripples that are highly tactile and invite touch. The colours of Apricot, Scarlet red and Azure blue swirl gloriously from the centre of the vase and outwards in alternating bands. The red and blue tones are translucent, creating stunning refractions when placed in the path of bright light. The work is finished with a clear glass 'Sommerso' casing at the base.
Stylistically timeless and majestic in size, there is an air of vivacious vitality to this work that remains constant whatever the season.
CONDITION Very Good. There are no cracks, only mild wear on the surface of this piece and age-related fleabites at the base and underside of the vase that is commensurable with the age. Please refer to the photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base has a concave pontil that is a known finishing touch of Iwatsu.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 11.4" / 29 cm (base to rim) Diameter: c. 4.8" / 12.3 cm (across widest point). Base diameter: c. 3.4" / 8.6 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 2.1 kg / 2,120 g
NOTES Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY Iwatsu Glassworks Unfortunately, little is known about Iwatsu despite being one of the largest glassmakers in Japan, the commonly cited and understood reason is due to language barriers. However, Iwatsu is deemed to have produced art glass under the Hineri and Art Glass labels before closing in the 1990s. Iwatsu were known to have been based in Osaka in Japan, producing colourful art glass during the 1970s. The quality and style of their work rivalled and is often mistaken for, Italian Murano glass and Czech glass from the same period.
Kamei Glassworks, Handblown Sculpted Handkerchief Vase In Blue and White, 1960s-70s, Japanese
Regular price£36.00
Save £-36.00
This joyful work of mid-century handblown art glass is by Japanese art glass studio Kamei glassworks. There is an air of graceful elegance in its form, particularly with the hot-worked unfurling and rippling rim that is seminal to Kamei's glass art expertise. The form of the main body proudly displays the evenly curved segments with the overlapping Cobalt Blue interwoven with the White.
CONDITION Excellent. No chips or cracks or repairs, with few and mild movement marks on the underside of the vase base that is commensurable with age. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 5.7" / 14.5 cm (base to rim) Rim measurements: c. 5.2" / 13.2 cm x c. 4.9" / 12.5 cm (across widest points). Base diameter: c. 2" / 5 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.4 kg / 360 g.
NOTES Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY Fun fact: the literal translation of the word 'Kamei' is 'Turtle well' and is, in fact, a Japanese surname. The Kamei glassworks was founded in Osaka, Japan in the 1910s.
Sadly, little is known about the glass artists resident at the glassworks. Perhaps it is due to the language barrier but it is well known amongst the avid glass collectors community that there are many Chinese and Japanese glassmakers whose skill and techniques rival the famous Murano, Czech and Scandinavian makers of the Western world. The styles in which the glass was produced were similar to that of their Western counterparts but like all things, they had subtle differences, such as the finishing technique and colour palettes (a tendency for more vivid colours).
Sanyu Glassworks Citrine Amber, Emerald Green and Silver Foil Japanese Art Glass Dish, 1960s-70s
Regular price£78.00
Save £-78.00
This beautifully sculpted and handblown piece is the work of mid-century Japanese glassworks Sanyu with the iconic Citrine Amber and Emerald Green tones. The blending of silver foil into the body of this piece combined with the form and condition makes this a particularly rare find.
The form is superbly organic with four 'petals' on either side of the inward-folding points and the sides of each petal is edged in clear crystal casing. 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.
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. The base of the dish bears the Japanese hallmark of the smooth concave pontil.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c." / 8.6 cm tall x c." / 18.5 cm width (across widest point). Base measurements: c. c." / 11 cm (across widest point). Unpackaged weight c. 1.2 kg / 1,240 g
NOTES Dish 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.
