Posted 4 years ago
kwqd
(1189 items)
This Soga Glass Company ashtray is about 4.75" wide x 3" high. It has it's original label and box. It probably dates to the 1980s. Soga is still making household glass, but at some point stopped making pieces which consisted of colored glass and, instead, started flashing color onto their pieces. Some of their flashed glass is very complex and attractive, though. I went over my June budget to buy this piece since I seldom see older Soga glass like this, not to mention with the label and original box, as well. It is NOS and in new condition.
Soga Glass Ltd. was founded in 1907, according to their web site:
http://www.sogaglass.co.jp/en/message/index.html
"Since inaugurated in the MEIJI ERA 40 (1907), Soga Glass has established firm reliance and solid results as a special maker of tableware glass plates and bowls for long last century. We specialized to press-method glass production system in the SHOWA ERA 23 (1948) when we promoted a company, and developed sophisticated production method and technical know-how. Consequently we succeeded in building up mass production system taking initiative in this industry to develop sales for both domestic and overseas market, and have advanced into foreign market through technical assistance and business collaborations. Attributing this aggressive management policy taken in advance of the time, Soga achieved to a global enterprise and succeeded, being recognized as the worldwide brand of SOGA BRAND in glass tableware industries."
Soga still has a web site up, with some very awkward English text on it, but it has not been updated since 2006, so this company appears to be out of business. Some of the pages on the site are non-functional.
http://www.sogaglass.co.jp/en/product/index.html
Eventually, Soga began licensing companies in other countries to use their designs, China, Iran, etc. Glass made in this manner will either be labeled "Made under license by Soga", " Made under supervision of Soga", labeled "Soga (Country Name)", etc. In some cases the glass is not labeled but the box the glass came in will bear this information. This took place post 1990 when the general decline of the Japanese glass industry began due to foreign competition. Glass labeled "Soga Japan" was made in Japan by Soga..
Super gorgeous flashed color, & great photo angles
Thanks Jenni! Actually, this is not flashed, it is orange, red and clear glass. Soga switched to flashed glass sometime after making this piece.
Thanks for taking a look at my Soga ashtray Thomas, Hoot60, RichmondLori, Kevin, Jenni, Elaine, fortapache and blunderbuss2!
I don't think they made hand blown glass for long Kevin, and it was nearly always in this shape. I have seen a larger bowl but still not too big.
This looks like a really nice one. It's fab you got the original box too!
Thanks Karen! This is the only piece of blown Soga glass that I have seen on ebay or etsy in the U.S.
Thanks Radegunder!
Thank you bobby725!
Thanks for taking a look and welcome to CW six-0-one!
Thanks for your comment renedijkstra!
Thanks for taking a look at my Soga Glass ashtray Elaine and AnythingObscure!
Thanks for taking a look dlpetersen!
Hello kwqd, I have just started to collect mainly Polish art glass from the 60tees and 70tees. My most recent purchase is 4 ashtrays, sold to me as Murano Italy glas. One of them, after an intense search, turned out to be a Japanese Soga glass ashtray. The colors are like yours glass, are slightly different in size and form. I can't find any information about it. I am asking you kindly to support me. First of all, I would like to know if it is vintage and what its market value is. I am very grateful for your informations.
Hi Gaia! Welcome to CW. We do not discuss values on this site, it is just for collectors who share their collections with other collectors. Not much is known about Japanese art glass so it can be very difficult to date. I was able to find some information about the Soga Glass Company, but it will not help to date your piece. As noted below, Soga has specialized in pressed glass for many years, but I think has also been and continues to make a limited amount of blown glass. Little is known about their blown glass, of which my ashtray is an example. My best guess is that Soga's smoking related factory blown glass was made between the 1950s and 1990s, based on what other Japanese glass factories were producing, but that is purely a guess. I will say that factory made Japanese glass is not particularly valuable or expensive and the Japanese have not placed a great deal of esteem on their factory made art glass other than cut glass (Edo-Kiriko). Japanese studio art glass, produced in limited quantities by individual artisans, has more value.
http://niasia.com.sg/brands/soga_glass.html
"Since inaugurated in the MEIJI ERA 40 (1907), Soga Glass has established firm reliance and solid results as a special maker of tableware glass plates and bowls for long last century. We specialized to press-method glass production system in the SHOWA ERA 23 (1948) when we promoted a company, and developed sophisticated production method and technical know-how.
Consequently we succeeded in building up mass production system taking initiative in this industry to develop sales for both domestic and overseas market, and have advanced into foreign market through technical assistance and business collaborations. Attributing this aggressive management policy taken in advance of the time, Soga achieved to a global enterprise and succeeded, being recognized as the worldwide brand of SOGA BRAND in glass tableware industries.
Observing the present world market, there is still big room for further development. From now on, not only export increase and promoting business collaboration, but also we must aim to materialize the global network system through production, logistic and sales by setting up the positions world-widely. It is required capable men with challenging sprit to become motive power. We respond to motivation and life worth of workers, and at same time we pour our efforts to educate capable men with sufficient global sense. Realizing three management concept of international sprit, creativeness, culture, we will contribute widely for society, and simultaneously we will aim further growth and progress."
If you post images of your Soga glass, I may be able to tell you more.
Hi, kwqd, thank you so much for your answer and informations about Soga Glass. I am very sorry that my reply is so late. I can't technically navigate the Internet well and I couldn't find you again :) Now I am a member of the group and as you suggested I showed in the photos the glass that I am trying to identify. Under Art Glas Category and the title are: Blown Glass Bowl Ashtray Red Clear. Actually I have find almost the same glas https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/284139-soga-glass-company-ashtray. I am curious what you think about it. Thank you so much again.
Thanks Alfie21 and cheapstuff2! Thanks for the update Gaia!
Gaia, in rereading your post, I am not sure what you are asking. Did you mean to include a different link? The link in your post just leads back to this post.
Thanks for loving my Soga glass ashtray, aura!