Iwatsu Hineri Glassworks, Handblown Sculpted Dish in Summer Berries Palette, 1960s-70s, Japanese

This striking and joyful work of mid-century handblown art glass is of Japanese art glass design and by the Japanese glassworks Iwatsu, who were known to have produced art glass under the labels of Hineri and Art Glass.

Currently held on consignment at Andrews Oakville

There is an air of gracefulness in the way the stripes are lightly rippled and curved to create the evenly shaped segments or 'petals' of this piece. The colours of Apricot, Scarlet Red and Violet swirl gloriously from the centre of the dish and outwards in alternating bands. The red and violet tones are translucent, showing spectacular refractions when placed in the path of sunlight. The work is finished with a clear glass 'Sommerso' casing. 

This excellent piece is stylistically timeless yet very obviously retro and above all, joyful. 

CONDITION
Very Good. There are no obvious scratches, with the most considerable wear being a single flake along the clear glass rim that measures c. 1.7cm. Beyond this, there are faint movement marks that are on the underside of the base, which are commensurable with age. Please refer to 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. 2" / 5 cm (base to rim) Length/Width: c. 7.7" / 19.6 cm x c. 7.7" / 19.6 cm (across widest points). Base diameter: c. 3.5" / 8.8 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.9 kg / 920 g

NOTES
Dish 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.

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.

This majestic work is of mid-century handblown Japanese art glass is by Iwatsu Hineri glassworks. Glass collectors familiar with the Murano technique Sommerso (translation 'submerged) will know that this is the art of capturing segments of solid colour in clear glass.

Currently held on consignment at Andrews Oakville

The graceful, extending lobes of this piece are a superb Hineri interpretation of mid-century art glass, just as the capturing of the Scarlet red, Tangelo orange and Violet  within the clear cased triangular base is a rival to the Sommerso technique. The interior of the dish enables a view of the swirling colours as they whirl outwards into varying intensities of colour in the lobes of the dish.

Amongst collectors, the skill and quality applied in creating Japanese art glass is very much known to rival its Western counterparts and can often be more difficult to find. Hineri vases and the 4-petal dish in this palette and design are common but the tricorn form of this piece makes it a particularly rare find. 

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips and cracks. There is negligible surface wear that is commensurable with age. Mentioned for completeness: one corner of the base has been left unpolished as part of the finishing process. Please refer to 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. 5.1" / 13 cm (base to rim). Width: c. 11.1" / 28.3 cm (across widest point). Base measurements: c. 3.6" / 9.1 cm (across widest point) Depth: c. 2.5" / 6.3 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1.6 kg /  1,620 g

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

A BIT OF HISTORY
Hineri Iwatsu Glassworks
Unfortunately, little is known about Hineri 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.

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).

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. 3.4" / 8.6 cm tall x c. 7.3" / 18.5 cm width (across widest point). Base measurements: c. 4.3" / 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.