Yoshida Takeo (1916-2002) was an artist who made a significant contribution to the development of glass art in postwar Japan. His pen name was "Okibito" (fireman), and he created a world of work that embodied warmth and tranquility. He studied at the lacquerware department of the Department of Crafts at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts (now Tokyo University of the Arts), specializing in lacquerware. After his postwar pursuit of new materials, he switched to the field of glass.
Yoshida joined Kagami Crystal Manufacturing (now Kagami Crystal), Japan's first factory specializing in crystal glass, in 1935 (Showa 10), as a student of the company's founder, Kagami Kozo. Throughout the turbulent times of war and postwar Japan, he remained at the company's headquarters in Nishirokugo, Ota Ward, from 1949 onwards, holding key positions such as Director of the Crafts Department and Managing Director. Through his many years of experience in production here, particularly his highly demanding work in creating items for the Imperial Household and gifts for state guests, Yoshida developed a unique style of expression that combined the creative sensibility of traditional crafts 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, and sake cups, they also display a tranquil and refined beauty through the transparency of the materials and the refraction of light. After retiring from Kagami Crystal in 1978 (Showa 53) and going independent, he established his own studio, "Yoshida Takeo Crystal Crafts," in Ibaraki Prefecture. Devoting himself to highly artistic creative endeavors that transcend organizational boundaries, he has produced numerous masterpieces that harmonize smooth textures with organic forms, as exemplified by his signature work, "Date Gourd" (1988, National Crafts Museum). His natural-themed sculptures, such as gourds and buds, are imbued with a sense of vitality and inner light, exuding the delicate sensibility and warmth of handwork that come from a background in lacquerware.
This work, `Kousho (Light Dress)` is believed to have been specially commissioned by Sumitomo Trust Bank while Yoshida was employed at Kagami Crystal. It was created during a time when Yoshida was at the peak of his craft as a businessman, having been selected as a "Contemporary Master Craftsman" in 1974. Unlike his later independent works, it displays the refined and refined aesthetic unique to his time as a corporate workshop. This beautiful piece features light flowing like a trailing hem across 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 elegance to everyday moments. The thick crystal holds the ice, and the soft, swaying shadows of light envelop the 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 unforgettable experience.
- Artist : Takeo Yoshida (1916-2002)
- The artist's notable achievements include: [ 1974] Awarded the Minister of Labor's Commendation as a Contemporary Master Craftsman ; [1977] Selected for the 24th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition for the first time; [1981] Awarded the Tokyo Governor's Award at the 28th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition; [1986] Awarded the Medal with Yellow Ribbon; [1988] His representative work, "Date Gourd," is in the collection of the National Crafts Museum; [1990] Awarded the Minister of International Trade and Industry's Award (Traditional Craft Industry Outstanding Technician Award) ; [1992] He was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Fifth Class, and in 1995 received the Japan Crafts Association Holder's Award at the 42nd Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition.
- Title: Kousho (Light Dress)
- Production year: 1970s (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.
