Posted 5 years ago
racer4four
(586 items)
Ginza is a suburb of Tokyo that is famous for it's up market retail stores. It is home to a number of luxury department stores like Mitsukoshi and Matsuya, but I think the best known store is Wako.
Wako was originally established in 1881 as a watch and jewellery store by Kintaro Hattori, and in 1932 Hattori built a beautiful building in Ginza for his shop. The building was designed by Jin Watanabe and is made in an art deco style with a granite facade and curving front. It sits on a corner of Ginza and has an easily recognisable clock tower as it's main feature. Fortunately the building survived bombing in WWII and it is the oldest retail shop in Ginza district.
Wako has a number of branches but Ginza is it's most prestigious. It primarily sells jewellery, watches, porcelain, glass, and fashion accessories, and all are curated to be of the highest quality. Naturally, this is not a cheap store.
When I visited Wako in 2019 I spent quite a while looking around. Even in my daggy traveling clothes,clearly not a person of wealth, I was treated with the utmost respect. I did buy a small piece of Satsuma Kiriko there, possibly one of the cheapest things in the shop, but beautiful and desirable. I was seated at a desk with a piece of velvet laid down, and two seemingly identical glasses were placed in front of me. I was given a choice which glass to buy, and it was a very serious business picking up each glass and using a loupe to check the hand made cuts to determine which I preferred. The purchase was an absolute ceremony, and an event that increased my buying pleasure.
This bowl is not something I bought at Wako but is a Wako piece I bought second hand. It is a beautiful little glass bowl with a bird perching on the edge, and in that very Japanese way, has a clock attached. I guess it's for a desk, something to store paper clips or similar. Maybe it's just a flower or sweets bowl for a credenza. Like a lot of Wako glass is has no maker's signature or sticker and needs to be identified by attribution.
I am almost certain this is by Multi Glass. Multi have had a long association with Wako, and the style of bowl and bird are very much in their manner.
Like anything from Wako, it has beauty and quality.
Absolutely adore this bowl Karen, it has so much going for it to love, my fave of course being the bird perched on the edge, and that gorgeous green swirl glass
I thought the clock being attached to the bowl was peculiar until I saw the building with it’s clock...then it made sense.
Lovely story of your travel experience at the store!!
What an interesting bowl, have not seen one like this with a clock attached. The little birdie is a cutie!
Hey thanks Jenni!
It is a sweet bowl and who doesn't love a birdie!!
It may interest you Watchsearcher that Seiko has had a long association with Wako. They took over Hattori's wholesale business (in the late 30s I think) and the retail section of Wako was split off to make a separate company. They still sell a lot of Seiko and the clock on the building is a special Seiko piece, can't remember why sorry.
Clocks are a huge deal in Japan, and I have lots of glass pieces with clocks attached :))
Thanks for the interest.
The bird is a cutie indeed MrsT, so glad you loved it.
Thanks!
I love the bowl as glass. Karen, but I love it more for the sheer fun of it. If it were on my desk I'd arrive and wonder.....what is that clock watching bird thinking today!
Nice thought Peggy! I think it is a strange marriage, the bowl the bird the clock. You are correct however because that bird looks very floofy and thoughtful as it ponders the time and life.
The bird is now named Peggy as I will always think of you when I see it's contemplation.
I thought it was pondering how much time it had left to laze about before it has to fly the bowl and go hunting for worms for the family.............
Seriously, it's interesting to get a glimpse into another culture. To see what is considered a work of art, and just as much, to learn how it would be sold.
And just don't be knocking Peggy off her perch!
Indeed.
Great thoughts Peggy.
Love the clock and the bird making it so beautiful and has a use not associated normally with glass. You're discerning eye has helped you greatly in your quest for Japanese glass. The experience you had at that "oh so beautiful" store really was something you will remember the rest of your life, congratulations !~
Phil I have learnt so much in my Japanese glass collecting journey, and the more I know the more I realise I don’t know.
Like any collector I am always looking and am fortunate when beautiful and quirky glass turns up. This was one of the pieces that I happened across and had to have!
My experiences in Japan were wonderful and the Wako purchase was such a very a Japanese event. I will go back as soon as I can manage.
Thanks for your thoughts, I always appreciate them.
very unique bowl with clock!!
Ta Sean!
your welcome Karen!!
Such a pretty piece. I bet that buying experience is something you'll always remember! I'd also bet you had a blast the whole time you were there!
There's a place here in the states that's like that and a friend of mine and I walked in, he wanted his watch checked out. LOL!!! They had the armed guard follow us around!!! That friend of mine has a grip of tattoos, so... it was pretty amusing and the place we were in was one of the finest, especially the glass staircase and the amazing chandeliers! That was over 10 years ago but still funny to me!
I always look like what I am, a dag, so most shops look at me like I'm just wasting their time, and they are right :))
I love the idea of a a bad looking bro and sis swanning down a glass staircase!
Beautiful Green :)
Thanks Trey!
How's your gorgeous fam?
We are great :) everyone is happy and healthy :) I hope you are the same :)