Posted 6 years ago
racer4four
(620 items)
Japan started making glass in volume from about 1880, although it was nearly always for practical use. Things like oil lamps, thermometers, jars, floats, mirrors, and basic serving ware were the type of items that kicked off production. They had developed equipment and skills from a range of places, but primarily it was the British that really got their pressed glass production moving.
The ink well here dates from about 1920 according to my source, and is made from uranium glass. The moulding on it is of reasonable standard, with mould lines apparent but finished well.
The small blue dish is earlier, and may be around turn of the century. It is poorly made. The glass is not clean, the moulding is very obvious, and the outer edge retains dags.
The child's breakfast set dates from just before WW2. It is of reasonable quality, well moulded and finished.
One of the few books in English that provides information on this era, A History of Glass in Japan, ( Dorothy Blair, Corning Museum of Glass monograph, pub. 1973) shows pressed glass of much higher quality than these items. I suggest that the demand for cheap pressed glass within Japan was such that some companies bypassed quality to produce quickly, but were more than capable of producing good quality glass.
There seems to be very little of this glass remaining in Japan, and it is not easy to source..
All of them very beautiful & agree with Thomas, the scalloped blue dish is perfect
Thanks for the quick response Thomas! It is a survivor for sure, as are we lol!
Jenni, always so quick to respond and such a positive person, it is delightful. Thank you.
The plate is a very pretty thing, well used, but not so well made. I happily accept it's faults :)
Fascinating to see this - good work!
Gorgeous !~
Thanks Harry. I've got some more to show soon. Even with the Blair book I am finding it difficult to research.
Positive as always Phil, and as always I am grateful and thank you.
The blue coloring is lovely!
Looking forward to your next post. Along with the Blair book, I would also recommend GLASS OF JAPAN by Yoshio Tsuchiya. Unfortunately (for me at least) most of the text is in Japanese but the pictures are in color and the captions are subtitled in English.
Beautiful glass! I love the colors!
I think that ink well is for salt and pepper (antiker Salz und Pfeffer Behälter) as a recollect it being used here in Austria in the 60's?
Thanks Harry I'm on the path of Tsuchiya's book.
Thanks Laura! Glad you like it.
Radegunder you are very likely correct. It was sold to me as an inkwell and I didn't even think past that. Happy you commented, many thanks!