Posted 2 years ago
kwqd
(1189 items)
These measure about 2 .25" in diameter x 1.4" high and are very thick glass. They have a clear label in them that reads "IWATA GLASS". The design appears to be letters "I. I." and four horizontal three pronged characters over two horizontal double split lines. I have not idea if these features have a meaning or are just decorative.
I have not been collecting much over the past few weeks but had never seen Iwata napkin rings before and they were small and very inexpensive.
Napkin rings are always nice collectibles but have not seen many glass before. Would be nice to get some good info on these pieces, good luck !~
Thanks for your comments, PhilDMorris! There is probably not much hope of discovering more about the history of this pieces. The label may be a clue about the age, though. Guessing a clear vinyl label would put these toward the end of Iwata's production. Guessing Iwata went out of business, at least as a commercial glass factory, by the time that Hisatoshi Iwata died in 1994, probably before that in the 1980s. Unfortunately, practically no history of this company has been preserved. I believe that Ruri Iwata is still active, though, and has a web site devoted to her parents and grandfather. It is pretty vague about the history of the factory, though.
Thanks for loving my Iwata napkin rings Vynil33rpm, fortapache, PhilDMorris, Alfie21, Jenni, vcal and dav2no1!
Thanks Cisum!
Wow Kevin, these are so good!
I’ve never seen glass napkin rings before and to find Iwata ones is amazing.
They really didn’t do a lot of pressed or moulded glass.
Great find!
Thanks for your comments, Karen! I wonder if these were perhaps made to order, based on the initials?