Posted 9 years ago
racer4four
(586 items)
I have been looking for a while for an example of Japanese enamelled glass and happened to spot this behind the counter at a Vinnies the other day.
It was a nice surprise because it was a Vinnies I rarely visit as it's usually a dud one.
The conversation went like this:
"Excuse me, may I please have a look at the decanter and glasses on the middle shelf?" (I'm always very polite to volunteers)
"Yes" (sternly and with no other response or movement for 30 seconds or so)
"Is that a problem?" (I was confused with the lack of action)
"Well it is Japanese" (in a sneering voice)
"That's fantastic! I would love to see it!" (lots of silence again)
"Most people don't want it because it's not from Italy or Czechoslovakia you know..." (frowning)
"I probably will, but I need to see it." (another 20 seconds or so and the service deficient cashier slowly turned and reluctantly reached through the boxed sets of Buffy, and The Office, the glass punch set, the RCR wine glasses, and the tattered Penguin Classics to pass the decanter to me.)
"May I see the glasses too please?" (doleful sigh, and a reluctant reach and bang, five times, of glasses on the counter)
I took my time checking the glasses under her belligerent eye even though I knew I was going to buy them. Eventually I gave her the good news;
"I'll take them thanks."
"Are you sure? They're Japanese you know." (worried now)
"Yes, I saw the stickers. I'll take them. Here's my card." (I was waiting for a no on EFTPOS)
"Why thank you dear!" (all smiles now the money was coming. I think it was a sociopathic volunteer - not suitable for paid employment anyway.)
I paid $40 for these, a pretty average price for anything reasonable in most of our Vinnies now. I am happy however!
Cobalt blue decanter and glasses, ground stopper, hand painted enamel flowers and motifs. As good as any I have seen from Murano and probably derived from their works.
Best of all: A couple of TG stickers. Who is that?
TAJIMA GLASS JAPAN
Awesome
Oh wow!
Racer4four I'm getting some times multiple emails from CW thanking me for the post. Are you?
I sometimes get 2 Roy.
Thanks for wow!
Your welcome I really like the look of these.
Was wondering if these sets have 6 5 or 4 glasses I've seen a few nice ones but was hesitant to buy because I wasn't sure they were complete.
I couldn't say for sure Caper.
Japanese sets typically have 5 glasses and Euro seem to have 6, but there may be variation.
buy iy's Japanese you know......lol
It's a stunner...the colours are amazing
Haha, your struggle for seeing these is hilarious! At least it was against a volunteer...
I had those sort of dialogs with SHOP OWNERS too!
But when you badly want the piece, you keep smiling ;-)
Your set is fantastic!
You're correct, Karen, Japanese sets typically come in 5 or 7. Why not 4 or 6? 5 & 7 are good luck numbers in our culture. In Japan, 4 is the ultimate bad luck number. The word for 4 is "shi", which also means "death". That's why hospitals in Japan never have a room #4. [;>)
Caperkid >>> At least you're getting email from CW. I'm not getting anything at all. Zilch. It's been like this for about 2 or 3 weeks now. Wonder what's going on???
Thanks Anne - I wished I could have filmed her face!
I have them too Kyra but this one was a cracker! I'm still bemused and amused.
Thanks for the love and appreciation..
Thanks for the info Blade. I always thought 5 was the number for Mum, Dad, 1 kid and the in laws lol! I know why they avoid 4 now!
Wonderful cobalt blue Karen.... I would have mistaken it for modern souvenir glass from Europe myself. I have pieces like this but I'm never sure where they're from or how old or valuable they are just that they are pretty. Japanese porcelain I love but their glass is always a puzzler for me as to what's good or bad. I usually go by eye appeal...lol. I'm gaining new insight and appreciation for Japanese glass because of your informative posts. :)
Proof positive that Japanese glassmakers can turn their hands to just anything :)
I have difficulty with these enamelled glass pieces too Mike and was glad it had stickers. All of this style from Japan seems to have come from Tajima - the 5 petal flowers, yellow centres, the leaf shape and colours, and the gold scrolls are a good clue.
Otherwise I'm with you, eye appeal gets the vote. Thanks for the complimentary post!!
Indeed Peggy, and proof positive of their ability to make production decisions that made money. This enamelled glass from Japan was made in the 50s and 60s in direct competition with similar from Italy and Czechoslovakia. Of course they were cheaper,in price but not quality, so they had an effect on the general worldwide sales.
elegant and colorful!!!
Thanks Racer and NevadaBlades for the info always assumed they were missing a glass. Thanks again.
Very nice set and info. Funny story too!! I'm guessing Vinnies is the equivalent of the US Good Will. (GW)? Supposedly a charity?
Isn't it funny what we put up with when we really want something? There is 1 character in the store I frequent who knows I'm on my lunch hour that always has something to do besides ring me up. She needs (and gets) lots of attention. I took her some cookies last week from a local bakery and it didn't work. I'll keep on keeping on as I'm sure we all suffer the same pain. ;;
Okay, first let me drool all over this decanter and glasses, what a stunning set, that blue, the shape, the decor, wow, just eye-poppingly gorgeous!!
As for your story, sheesh. Have to say, there's one female at a shop here, the ultimate b*tch of all b*tches, God forgive me for being so judgmental, but she is an absolute beast. Every single time I have to deal with her is an exercise in anger management. Seriously, she goes out of her way to bust my chops. I can usually manage to cut people like this down when they get on my last nerve, but this one is so dull and stupid as to be impervious, she just keeps truckin' on, lol. :))
But let me come back to that beautiful set, can't take my eyes off of the decor. Is that plumeria, what a wonderful hand that painted those flowers. Well worth what you paid for this set, Tajima Glass did itself proud! :)
Missed your response OGF. Vinnies is St Vincent de Paul, a Catholic charity here in Aus that has many charity shops. Australians are well known for their use of diminutives and everyone here knows what a Vinnies is (an op shop! from opportunity shop).
This might explain it:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diminutives_in_Australian_English
I don't often come across volunteer horrors like this lady but we all have met them - what's their problem? Sheesh!Volunteer at an abattoir instead!
Ha Katherine! Some people are so impervious that even when they are clearly told something they don't get it. I usually like to have some fun with them by being very dry and sarcastic. "Thanks for all your help!" "You really add something special to shopping here!" etc. Totally over their head but I feel good.
Anyway, thanks for the love, and the second love. I had no idea what plumeria was and had to look it up. We call it frangipani here.
Thanks for the admiration !
So deserving of admiration, Karen, quite wonderful indeed. :)
Gotta say, I'm impervious, too, to sarcasm, lol. In Mexico they practice the art of what are called "indirectas," saying something that is a remark while looking at someone but indirectly meant for the other person. One day, I was in the shop and Queen B was talking about being a good Christian with another cashier and I said, "Yes many people think they are Christian but it's pretty clear they don't have a clue what the word means. Probably can't even spell it." That's an indirecta. Lost on her, lol.
So worth the $40 even if they are "Japanese"! Haha ha I love your moment by moment description! If she only knew who she was talking to...OMG! These are spectacular!
super lovely karen -- yes the quality is a there. Serve yourself up a drink, and Salute yourself on your wonderful find!!
Are you a Motorcycle Racer?? Just wondering....LOL
This answers a question that I have had about some vanity pieces I have that I believe were imported by IRice. This Japan link has opened up a whole new realm for m. Thanks.
Glad it's helped Judy.
I'm sure you are aware that IRice imported from lots of countries, but I have seen quite a bit with their label that is Japanese origin. Lots seemed to be cut glass, possibly by Hoya. I really don't have much info on the perfume bottle side of things so I'm happy for you to correct me.
Fascinating - the Japanese ability for imitation is astounding.
Gorgeous set!
I just found this post Karen because of the link you made for another post comment, more recent. Frankly I am very surprised that a Japanese glass company would have copied an Italian or Czech decor so closely.
Any possibility it's a Japan glass import and retail situation?
As far as the totally rude volunteer, you have much more patience that I, as you can probably guess, I could not have stood there that long without giving her a warning line such as when she was slamming the glass down, "you sure don't like your job, maybe I can help you with that...." lol.
Hi, truthordare,
The more I collect, research and study the more I learn about glass, and the more I am surprised! I can't say about these particular pieces, but I have learned that some of this style "glass" was made in European countries (Italy, Czech) and shipped to Japan for decorating and exporting. When and why possibly had to do with exporting laws and/or what business owned both the glass and the decorating entities. It was done whatever was the cheapest way. I have started a file on actual items with labels and one thing that confuses so many novice collectors is the label Bohemia Glass or Bohemia Crystal. Sometimes the label will also ready "Hand Decorated in Czechoslovakia" and sometimes it doesn't. I think that is when the comparison of the petals and leaves comes into discussion. Possibly you have seen that example floating around in cyberspace trying to help collectors know. But the fallacy is, the glass still could have been made in Czechoslovakia or Czech-Republic but decorated in Japan. So, just by determining which flower and which leaf matches, doesn't always say where the glass was made!
Isn't this fun? LOL