Posted 5 years ago
racer4four
(586 items)
I didn't do much during isolation and now I'm back at work I wonder where that time went! I've had a good long look at my navel I guess.
I did sort through one of my boxes of glass and discovered a whole lot of different vases of similar design. Some call these handkerchief vases but they would be a weird handkerchief to shape like this.
I know the green Kurata was made by being spun in a centrifugal mould. Two of the others appear to have been made similarly but I am not sure. I think the Kurata has a degree of expertise to it that places it above the others.
The red and blue vases are both Tajima. The blue is slightly different in that it has a squarish base and has been primarily moulded (not centrifugally) and then hot worked at the rim. It's also been iridised so has a lovely colour.
The light blue has the remnants of a Crane Circle sticker on it, so was possibly made by OTK. It appears to have been spun in a centrifuge and the base has been ground matte. Generally there has been less time put into it but despite that it's a nice vase.
They all measure around the 18cm mark.
Super gorgeous vases in such beautiful colors, they are all stunning and I love the white swirl designs
I have so many more of these too Jenni, yellow and orange and brown and different greens. They were certainly popular in Japan in the 60s. I'm a sad sad case!
Thanks as usual for a lovely comment. I agree, the white makes the colouring so much better.
Thanks Ken, glad you liked them!
Hope all is still well. Australia has lots of problems here at the moment but I don't think it comes near what's happening there. I focus on just my life and am grateful for what I have and those I love. I'm sure you do that too.
I love these and I have always thought of some of the very old decorative handkerchiefs when I see these beautes !~
So different to the typical Murano handkerchief vase (fazzoletto) in that they tend to be thin & airy, while these have a heavy, syrupy, viscous quality. The former escapes the medium & takes flight into illusionism, while the latter captures the inherent weight & fluidity of the same medium. It's great that you're raising the profile of this type of glass as many would look at it & assume 1950s - 60s Murano, being funky-chunky "retro" glass.
I really like these and this style of vase. Great post. I have not seen the light blue color before. I have a tricolor in orange/white/clear sitting on a table in a high traffic area in my house and I have to restrain myself from picking it up and fondling it every time I walk by it for fear that I will have to constantly wash it and eventually break it . Handling them is very satisfying, though... I have had to remind myself that I have a few of these already when I see one for sale. They are like potato chips. Seeing several in one post weakens my resolve! The white pearlescent Kuratas may be my favorites...
These are really cool looking vases.A couple look like there made from colored ice.
Great answer Marin, poetic in your descriptions. And so right.
I agree most hand worked Japanese glass of this period utilised the plasticity of the glass as a design feature.
When I'm searching for Japanese glass I generally look under Murano. Here is Aus at least 50% of the glass sold as Murano is Japanese.
Thanks Kevin! I do really like these vases and apart from a few similar that seem to be from Eastern Europe I think them so particularly Japanese. They are bright and bold and fun!
As I said to Jenni I have more of these and it seems many glass houses made them in the 60s. I love orange and I think yours must be fantastic! A happy piece to see and hold.
I think Kurata generally was a step above the rest although their very early one were pretty basic. The White Pearl series are beautiful.
They are a very organic shape like melting ice I agree Jim.
If they are ixce I wonder where the colouring comes from lol!
I was surprised to find that Muurla of Finland made some very similar ones. Krosno of Poland also made some very similar ones. The three color ones seem to mostly, if not all of them, made by the Japanese...
I greatly enjoy the ones that puzzle or trick the eye!
Thanks Peggy, me too.
Puzzles are supposedly good for the brain and mine often needs help these days.
#1 post of the week! So far.
Really?
Never had that before!!
Yes check it out on the show and tell page under this week..