THE ITEM
This exceptional and majestic work of studio art glass is by Japanese glass artist, Toshichi (Tosti) Iwata (b. 1893 - d. 1980).
Bearing the different hallmarks of Venetian art glass techniques, it would be easy to mistake this piece for an unusual work of Murano but it is these hallmarks that are characteristic of Iwata's style. From Iwata's 20 year stay in Murano, Italy and exploration into Venetian glass techniques; his style became preferenced to including gold strips (Avventurine technique), stretched Millefiori and finishing with an overall layer of clear glass (Sommerso technique). Other Iwata signature characteristics are a preference for streaks and trails of bright colour and including jet black in the colour palette.
The elegant baluster form of this piece is not unusual as many of Iwatas pieces are simple and elegant in form, however, the size is a particularly rare find. The immensity of this piece is also why the discs of Millefiori measure 1"+ and the weight comes in at over 4 kg / 9 lbs. The body of this piece is an opaque Peach tone that is overlaid with translucent swathes of Deep orange and Crimson red, these fiery tones meld with sweeps of opaque and translucent Jet black. Overlaying the background are delicate undulating trails of white, yellow and peach as well as multiple discs of stretched Millefiori.
This incredible piece is as bold as it is dominating of the space it is displayed in and brings with it it's own timeless contemporary style.
CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks or repairs, very mild use wear is present and predominantly in the form of movement marks on the underside base of the vase, which is commensurable with age. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report.
MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 14" / 35.5 cm tall x c. 7.9" / 20 cm diameter width (across widest point / rim). Base diameter: c. 4.9" / 12.5 cm. Rim diameter: c. 5" / 12.8 cm. Unpackaged weight c. 4.2 kg / 4,228 g / 9.3 lbs.
NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY
Toshichi (Tosti) Iwata (b. 1893 - d. 1980) was a glass artist who came from a family that owned a glassworks in Osaka, Japan. Iwata's family would go on to own one of the two major Japanese glassworks during the 1940s and 1950s. Iwata himself visited Murano in Italy in the mid-1930s, where he became inspired to remain for 20 years and explored the techniques within the art of Venetian glass.
He would eventually return to Osaka and Kamei glassworks in the 1950s to oversee export production and more importantly, to explore original studio art glass pieces. Iwata's studio work is heavily influenced by the two decades of experience in Murano and his signature characteristics include: strips of embedded gold (Avventurine technique), streaks of bright colour and stretched Millefiori, jet black included into the main body and an overall layer of clear glass (Sommerso technique). His studio pieces became part of the Japanese studio art glass scene and these contemporary designed pieces have now become rare
The quality of Japanese art glass during the 1950s to the 1970s rivalled that of Murano, Scandinavian, and Czech glass production, however, recognition was relatively low and most pieces imported into the Western market were often simply marked with the word 'Foreign' or not at all.