Item Description 岩田久利 Iwata Hisatoshi (1925–1994) — Glass Flower Vase "Seichiku" (成竹) This exquisite blown-glass flower vase is a masterwork by Iwata Hisatoshi, one of Japan's most celebrated glass artists. The title Seichiku (成竹) carries a beautifully layered meaning in Japanese: literally "fully grown bamboo" or "bamboo brought to perfection," it also evokes the classical proverb meaning "to have a clear vision and a sure hand" — the confidence of one who has already seen the finished work in their mind before a single stroke is made. It is a title perfectly suited to a vessel of such refined mastery. The vase is sculpted in the form of a bamboo stalk, its silhouette defined by the characteristic undulating nodes that give the plant its unmistakable rhythm and strength. The form is rendered in free-blown glass — Iwata's signature technique — and the body glows with a deep, jewel-like gradation of emerald green and cobalt blue, evoking the living lustre of bamboo leaves in the light of summer. A bold vertical band of applied gold leaf, worked in the cracked, mosaic-like kirigane tradition, ascends the full length of the vase, crossing the bamboo nodes as if to celebrate the plant's upward growth. The gold catches the light in a texture that is simultaneously ancient and completely modern — raw, luminous, and deeply beautiful. The interior of the vase glows in translucent mint green, a gentle contrast to the richly layered exterior. The mouth of the vase is cut at a natural diagonal, as though the bamboo stalk itself had been harvested — a quietly poetic and technically refined detail that adds life and movement to the form. The base is solid and unglazed, bearing the natural, granular texture of cooled molten glass. The piece comes in its original signed wooden storage box (tomobako), bearing the title 花生 成竹 in bold calligraphy and the artist's red seal. Size Height: 24 cm Width: 9.5 cm (diameter) Weight: 685 g Condition This vase is in excellent, unused condition with no chips, cracks, repairs, or any signs of use whatsoever. The original wooden storage box (tomobako) shows minor age-related wear consistent with its age. Artist Profile 岩田久利 Iwata Hisatoshi (1925–1994) was one of the most important figures in the history of Japanese glass art. Born in Tokyo as the eldest son of pioneering glass artist Iwata Toshichi, he studied design at the Tokyo University of Fine Arts and went on to research glass composition at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. He became president of Iwata Kogei Glass Co., Ltd., the studio founded by his father, while pursuing his own art practice with extraordinary dedication. Iwata Hisatoshi is renowned for his mastery of free-blown (chuufuki) colored glass and his bold, innovative use of gold leaf, achieving a style that is simultaneously painterly and sculptural. He received the Minister of Education Prize at the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition (Nitten) in 1976, the Mainichi Art Prize in 1982, and the prestigious Japan Art Academy Prize in 1983. In 1986, his works — together with those of his father and wife, glass artist Iwata Itoko — were acquired for the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. He served as the founding president of the Japan Glass Art Association and is widely regarded as a central pillar of twentieth-century Japanese decorative art. 【Important Notice】 The item will be carefully packaged and shipped via Japan Post, DHL, or FedEx. Estimated delivery time is about 1–3 weeks. Import duties, taxes, and other charges are not included. Combined shipping with other items is not available. Thank you for your understanding.