Yoshida Takeo (1916-2002) was an artist who made a significant contribution to the development of Japanese glass art in the postwar period. His pen name was "Okibito" (fireman), and he created a world of work imbued with warmth and serenity. After studying at the lacquerware department of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts (now Tokyo University of the Arts) and specializing in lacquerware, he switched to glass, driven by his desire to explore new postwar materials. In 1949, he joined Kagami Crystal , headquartered in Nishirokugo, Ota Ward, Tokyo. Through his creative experience there, he developed a unique style of expression that combined the creative sensibility of traditional craftsmanship with the modern material of crystal glass.
While Yoshida's works are based on the "beauty of utility" found in tea ceremony utensils, flower vases, sake cups, and other items, they also display a tranquil and refined beauty through the transparency of the materials and the refraction of light. His representative work, "Date Gourd" (1988, National Crafts Museum), is known as a masterpiece that harmonizes smooth texture with organic form. The natural motifs of gourds and buds are imbued with a sense of life and inner light, and convey the delicate sensibility and warmth of handwork that only a lacquer craftsman can have.
This work, " Kousho, " is believed to have been specially commissioned by Sumitomo Trust Bank while Yoshida was still employed at Kagami Crystal. It displays the refined and refined beauty of form typical of his time as a corporate workshop, distinct from his later independent works. It's a beautiful piece in which light flows like a trailing hem into the crystal's transparent white space. True to its name, this vessel, adorned as if wrapped in light, also excels as an ice bowl, adding a touch of dignified elegance to everyday moments. The thick crystal holds the ice, and the soft, swaying shadows of light envelop the entire vessel like the hem of a garment. The harmony of the ice and glass, along with the tranquil beauty of the light, creates a rich and memorable experience.
- Artist : Takeo Yoshida (1916-2002)
- The artist's representative work: [1988] Representative work "Date Gourd" in the collection of the National Crafts Museum; [1990] Awarded the Minister of International Trade and Industry Award (Traditional Craft Industry Outstanding Technician Award)
- Title: Kousho (Light Dress)
- Year of production: 1960s (estimated)
- Condition: Very good (no chips or cracks)
- Accessories: Dedicated wooden box
- Material: Hand-blown glass, crystal
- Dimensions: height approx. 23cm, width approx. 20cm
- Special notes: There are small internal bubbles, cloudiness, and scratches due to manufacturing, but no notable damage after manufacturing is found.
- Please note: Even if the products we offer are brand new and unused, they are very old and are listed as second-hand items. Please note that the products may have damage due to aging, so please understand and check before purchasing.
