Posted 5 years ago
kwqd
(1189 items)
This vase is made of thick glass and it is very heavy for its size. It is 6.75" high x a bit over 4" in diameter. It weighs in at 2 lbs and 13 ounces. The bottom is ground but has been polished. The colors are green and blue green with a splash of brown and are much deeper than my images show, as they were washed out due to the bright light I used. It has a partial label that made it possible to make an initial attribution of a maker, Kurata, a Japanese glass house. I actually snagged this right out of the cart while the GW employee was stocking the shelves from it. I paid $3.99 for it as I was pretty sure it is good glass. Someone has actually been using it as a vase as the interior was filthy, filled with waterlines and pieces of plants. It cleaned up very well and is in mint or near mint condition.
There’s a KU there I think. No K in the Italian alphabet, so it’s something else and I think it is Japanese.
RACER4FOUR will know. Calling KAREN !!!
Think I found it. Kurata Craft Glass...
That’s it.
Here is a post from CW which has a good image of the label:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/218172-kurata-glass-mottled-vase
Thanks vetraio50!
Nice vase too ... they get mixed up with Chribska quite often too. Some even suggest Skrdlovice.
Thanks! Very cool. My first piece of Japanese art glass. I've been lusting after the Iwata pieces that Karen has been posting and wondered if I would ever find an example in the Midwest. This is a step in the right direction...
Looks like Karen posted an almost identical vase three years ago.... Colors are different...
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/215763-a-little-twist-from-kurata-glass
@Ms.CrystalShip - Thanks for the comment! It is true, lots of interesting stuff at GW, but not many gems. Especially true during the Halloween-New Years time as my GW puts out a lot seasonal stuff in areas that would normally contain possible treasures. I definitely enjoyed cleaning this vase up! It sure looks different, now.
Thanks for loving my Kurata vase!
buckethead
fortapache
SEAN68
Ms.CrystalShip
Vynil33rpm
jscott0363
vetraio50
Adore this Kurata vase Kevin, this Japanese designer made such beautiful pieces. Wonderful find
@Newfld - Thanks for your comment, Jenni! It is really nice glass. It was a nice surprise.
Thanks for loving my Kurata vase AdeleC, artfoot and Newfld!
Thanks for loving my Kurata vase, aura!
Thanks for loving my vase blunderbuss2!
Thanks for loving my first piece of Kurata glass, valentino97!
I just saw this Kevin! I'm excited because I so rarely see other Japanese glass here and this is a great piece.
I have often said that if I could only collect one brand from Japan it would be Kurata, always so well made and they have produced many beautiful designs.
I was fortunate last year to visit their headquarters, meet one of the family, get a behind the scenes tour, see their brilliant museum, and watch some glass production. For me, magic.
I think you are fortunate to find this, I really like this style, and the subtle amber/green works well. Happy for you ! (of course)
Thanks, Karen! Wow, did you take pictures of the Kurata tour and museum? That sounds really interesting. I agree I was really lucky to find this piece. The colors are richer than my images show. There are also some smokey components to the color flow. I may try to redo the images against a white background, tweak the lighting, etc.
Thanks for loving my Kurata vase, Thomas!
Kevin
Kurata by Mikasa? A question for the Japanese art glass collectors. Is the glass made by glass houses like Kurata for Mikasa of comparable quality to their other glass? Do any other notable Japanese glass houses have similar relationships with Mikasa or other retailers? (The vase in this post was not made for Mikasa by Kurata, just using this post to ask the question)