Posted 7 years ago
racer4four
(620 items)
Kano Glass was established post war in Japan in 1946, as a company that primarily made lacquerware. In 1960 they patented a method for manufacturing a new product "Giyaman lacquerware" that fuses and integrates resin, plate glass, and patterned textiles to form a body.
The result was a range of really different and attractive decor products, including these style vases and bowls.
The textile pattern in photo 1 seems to have been their commonest decor product and it was nice to find the copper coloured textile in the vase in photo 2. Most of their vases were square section and of differing sizes, although there is a round vase here, the only one I have seen.
The bowl is a very shallow curve, and looks great on a flat surface or standing in a rack on edge.
The vases are not waterproof, and came with a plastic inner for use with fresh flowers. They were quite popular in Japan, and some was exported to the West in the 60s and 70s.
Kano still exists as a company, however these days their production specialty is decorative building glass such as stained glass and lattice glass.
Note: Giyamen is the Japanese use of the word diamond.
It reminds me of Japanese Shakudo, it is very pretty indeed.
Thanks Jean, so quick too! It's easy to see why this range was so successful in Japan, it hits their style perfectly. As does Shakudo.
They are beautiful, particularly the round vase in my eyes. The Japanese were so innovative.
These are very beautiful! Thanks for grate information :)
Nice and so unusual!
Really amazing pieces great information . they are so good at what they do
Thanks Peggy. When I look at how these were made I am really impressed at the technical skill. The round one has no seams at all, so the fabric was woven to fit. Even after 40 years the resin joints of the square ones are perfect.
The Japanese still amaze me with their ability to create perfection, almost clinically, and then create beautiful items that are deliberately imperfect. Absolute dichotomy.
Thanks so much for the comments and love:
Elisabethan
MrsT and
Master
I always appreciate feedback!
You are welcome
How gorgeous is that! Love those square ones! And the combination of square and round.
Beautiful esp the vases.
Thanks Bijou. They are clever and beautiful in that very Japanese way.
Thanks to you too Wandless Fairy. The bowl has lost a lot in the photographs, but I'm happy for you to prefer the vases lol!
I have a beautiful decorative fan shape of this glass with strips of wood to resemble a real fan. It's fabulous. Want to know value if anyone knows...
Oh oh cancel my last sentence--just read it is NOT ALLOWED! Can't post my photo either because it will be for sale sometime soon...
I have never seen such a thing FTCG, sounds wonderful. We don't give values here on CW, even if I knew where to start.
Check Ebay and other sites as sometimes Kano Ware shows up.
My glass fan is 19 1/2" across and about 12" in height with two bamboo & wood strips on two edges that cross at the bottom. There are two red headed flying cranes with black throats, tail feathers, and legs. Wings and body feathers are made with silver metallic thread outlined in gold metallic thread. Background is a dark red with chrysanthemum-like shapes in gold threads. Thickness of fused glass fan shape is 1/4". Backside is mostly black with red , silver, gold metallic thread. To me, it's much prettier than objects I see online.
There is a gold KANO sticker on bottom edge of fan.
I would love to see it! Can you post it please? :))
Thanks.
I had a look, it's very nice! The fabric used on that one is lovely with the cranes.
Price seems ok for an unusual item, but way too much for me; exchange rate and post make it a bit high!
Are you in Canada? I know postal rate to there is high. Well let's hope I have a buyer who likes this too...racer4four, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU! Aloha, Marisa
Australia :)
Well yes, that is far away! How cool that Collectors Weekly brings us all together under one roof so to speak!
Thanks Ken. I have seen a larger range of Kano since this post, and of course the great fan from Marisa. It remains surprisingly expensive online. I hope to find some in an op shop!