Posted 8 years ago
racer4four
(620 items)
Very interesting decor on this vase and I have never seen anything similar from anywhere else in the world.
A black ground has been spattered with large blobs of red, yellow and brown glass. It has been lightly cased in clear with metal inclusion (mica?) and the metal has been varied in pattern and intensity.
It won't be to everyone's taste, I get that, but you have to admit the Japanese have been happy to try the different, and make decor decisions based on their culture and no-one elses.
This decor was a series for Kurata and I have seen it in a number of different shape vases. They have all been large works.
I don't know what the artist's text is on the inside and outside of the co-box lid.
Height: 24cm
It's quite an intriguing vase. You have such an amazing collection of Japanese glass.
OMG!What a beautiful vases you have,Karen.This is stunning!
Rather interesting this one is Karen!!!
It's striking how the demarcation between one pattern of inclusions and another is so clear cut. That can't be easy.....
You've shown a few vases with inclusions recently. all beautiful and yet all different!
This is a stunner for sure Karen. The first picture looks like a snow globe after you've shaken it. A lot of depth and layers which could not have been easy to execute. :)
Hi Karen, I asked my wife to read the Japanese.
Picture #2: It reads KABIN, which means "vase" in English. The red seal or HANKO is the company stamp. She is not able to fully read or interpret it, which is not uncommon because hankos are almost always extremely stylized.
Photo #4: Many times Japanese can be read either left to right or right to left. Such is the case here. My wife read the writing from right to left, so the kanji on the far right reads OKURIMONO, which means "gift" in English.
The second line says that the gift is presented to the city workers of HIROSHIMA for their dedication and hard work.
The third line gives the year of presentation. It reads HEISEI KYU NEN, which translates to "the 9th year in the reign of Emperor Heisei". Heisei is the formal, empirical name for Akihito, the current Emperor of Japan, who acceded to the throne on January 7, 1989. So, the year of presentation was 1998.
The last line on the far left reads HIROSHIMA SHICHO or "Mayor of Hiroshima" in English. It does not name the Mayor.
So, my wife and think the vase was probably displayed inside a governmental building in Hiroshima, possibly inside the Mayor's office, probably prominently in the lobby. [;>)
Scott thanks for the comment. I am quite proud of my collection - it's taken a while and has been such a great journey. Thanks for sharing it with me.
Ivonne thanks! Your excitement made me smile :))
Judy - interesting hey?! Indeed it is!! Thanks.
Bill I know. I am so monolingual my brain explodes whenever I think about learning a new language. It's so fortunate for me that Blade and his beautiful wife have helped me out here. I have so much respect for anyone with more than one language!
Ken your pottery comment is so good! I find Japanese glass has a very close association with their pottery style. Nailed it - thanks mate!
I thought that too Peggy - it's pretty cool with the changing intensity of fleck. They love their sparkle and try all sorts of ways. Your usual smart and astute commentary ; thanks :))
Snow globe!! That's it Mike and will be my name for this vase. Kurata probably named it pebbles in snow or something like that - it's your Asian bent coming through. Thanks!!
What gems you two are KJ - please thank your wife and give her a smacking kiss from me. Her translation is invaluable to me.
Such great information! I have a few art glass vases that have been given as corporate gifts or ceremonial presentations and this seems one of them too. They would not have been cheap gifts at the time and I regret they have not kept their value, both in cost and importance. Hiroshima mayor hey.....
The year is so important as I have much trouble dating some (lots) of my Japanese glass. This being 1998 has also given me some important info about Kurata and their labeling. I had thought they had stopped using the name Kurata when they moved to Tsukiyono but that is clearly not the case. I must now review the dating on some of my other pieces. See what good info does? - it leads me to more truths! Awesome.
Thank you both so much!!
Hi Karen,
Oh, how I have missed your humor!!
Very honest, very kind of KJ to go all out!!
Lovely pieces you have been posting. Can you see the green on my face? :)
Happy for ya!!
OGF is baaaack! Thanks for popping in and loving my stuff. Missed you .
I think you may be confusing humour with insanity but thanks anyway :))))
stunning vase my dear!!!
Absolutely gorgeous!
Thanks Sean my sweetheart!
Thanks MeliG, happy to have your input!
Just when I think you can't show more beautiful glass, -- you show more beautiful glass -- this is absolutely amazing. Absolutely amazing. Thanks so much for sharing, Karen.
You know what it's like? It's like looking at a stained glass window through snow at night. The particles can also be interpreted as ash from tragic events transformed into something so incredibly beautiful.
You are such an awesome writer Katherine. That description is beautiful and meaningful and has actually brought tears to my eyes. It is a fitting gift for the mayor from Hiroshima when it is described that way. Thank you.
It is I who thanks you for sharing your incredible works of glass art here, what a generous gift to all your friends here, and especially for me, I am so grateful for what you've shown me through your own profound appreciation of Japanese glass.
I love this piece! Everything about it appeals to me, the shape the pattern and color. It's very special.
Spectacular! What a gem. There is a crossover in Japan between glass and ceramics. See: https://japan-brand.jnto.go.jp/crafts/other_craft/106/
Satsuma Kiriko Rock Glass.
Thanks Congcu, and this is a pretty old post for you to find!
Satsuma kiriko is very special and I only have one piece I bought in Japan. More would be wonderful but price inhibits me!
I agree, the crossover of glass and ceramics is quite clear in lots of Japanese glass. Some of my pieces really look ceramic at first glance because of the surface finish, but even shapes are consistent.
Nice comment, thanks you!