Jun Fujita's Hand-Blown Glass Large Sake Cup: A Rare Piece by a Nationally Renowned Artist #161

Jun Fujita (b. 1951) is a leading figure in contemporary Japanese glass art, having embarked on his creative journey in 1979 after graduating from the Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Letters at Gakushuin University. Since the 1980s, Fujita has garnered extensive acclaim, receiving numerous prestigious honors including the Chiba Prefectural Exhibition Prize, the Bridgestone Museum of Art Prize at the 1996 Japan Glass Exhibition, and the Gold Medal—the highest honor—at the 2001 International Exhibition of Glass Kanazawa. His illustrious career is reflected in the inclusion of his works in the permanent collections of major domestic institutions such as the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, and the Yokohama Museum of Art, as well as renowned international venues including the Ebeltoft Glass Museum in Denmark, the mudac (Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts) in Lausanne, Switzerland, and the São Paulo Museum of Art in Brazil.

This hand-blown glass sake cup, measuring approximately 8.7 cm in diameter and 6 cm in height, was produced during Fujita’s highly productive period between 1995 and 1996. Its generous proportions represent a perfect harmony between functional utility and aesthetic splendor. Utilizing his signature hand-blowing technique, Fujita masterfully draws out the soft texture and fluid contours inherent to glass. A band of noble, radiant gold leaf is applied across the center, while the vibrant blue accent at the base provides a stunning contrast to the clear glass, evoking a sense of cool serenity and profound dignity.

The technical brilliance of this piece lies in the artist's exceptional heat management, which allows glass and gold leaf—materials with vastly different thermal expansion coefficients—to be fused at the molecular level in a molten state exceeding 1,200°C. In hand-blown glass, any sudden temperature drop during the shaping process can cause the gold leaf to peel or induce internal structural tension; therefore, precise temperature programming in the annealing furnace is paramount. The flawless adhesion and brilliance of the gold leaf in this work testify to the perfection of this execution. Artistically, the ponte process used to join the colored base with the clear upper body achieves a sophisticated balance between deliberate intent and natural spontaneity, minimizing distortion while preserving the organic fluctuations of hand-blown glass. The gold leaf is not merely a surface adornment; it is strategically positioned to create multiple internal reflections as light penetrates the glass, bounces off the gold, and passes back through the vessel. This calculated interplay enables the coexistence of a heavy metallic luster and airy transparency.

Presented in its original signed wooden box (tomobako) featuring the artist's signature and seal, and accompanied by a chronicle of his career, this piece is a complete and pristine example of Fujita’s artistry. His aesthetic has gained significant global recognition, including being featured in the scholarly journals of the Corning Museum of Glass in the United States. The acquisition of his work by the Japan Foundation and major museums worldwide is a tribute not only to its visual beauty but to its status as a symbol of the structural and technical perfection achieved by Japanese glass art at the close of the 20th century.

• Artist: Jun Fujita (b. 1951)
• Notable Achievements: [1988] Chiba Prefectural Exhibition Prize, [1996] Bridgestone Museum of Art Prize at the '96 Japan Glass Exhibition, [1999] Silver Award at the Japanese Contemporary Glass Exhibition in Notojima, [2001] Gold Award at the International Glass Exhibition Kanazawa 
• Public Collections: The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (MOMAT), The Japan Foundation, Yokohama Museum of Art, Glasmuseet Ebeltoft (Denmark), mudac - Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts (Lausanne, Switzerland) /, São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP / Brazil), and others.
• Date of Production: 1995–2000
• Condition: Excellent (No chips or cracks)
• Accessories: Original signed wooden box, artist's chronicle (shiori)
• Material: Hand-blown glass, gold leaf
• Dimensions: Diameter 8.7 cm, Height 6.0 cm
• Notice: While this item is in unused condition, it is a vintage piece produced many years ago and is therefore listed as second-hand. Please be aware that vintage items may show minor signs of age. We invite you to examine the provided images carefully before considering your purchase.