Item Description 黒木国昭 Kuroki Kuniaki (1945–) — Glass Art Paperweight / Objet d'Art This exquisite glass paperweight was created by Kuroki Kuniaki, one of Japan's most celebrated glass art masters and a recipient of the prestigious national title "Meiko" (Outstanding Contemporary Craftsman). Crafted at his studio Glass Art Kuroki in Aya-cho, Miyazaki, this piece exemplifies his lifelong pursuit of fusing Western glass techniques with the refined aesthetic sensibility of traditional Japanese art — particularly the Rinpa school of decorative painting. The compact cube-shaped form glows with depth and luminosity, as Kuroki's signature multilayer glass construction captures and refracts light from within. The rich, jewel-like coloration and meticulous hand-craftsmanship make this a true collector's piece — equally at home displayed on a writing desk or in a glass art collection. A rare opportunity to acquire a genuine work by a living national treasure of Japanese glass art, in excellent near-mint condition. Size Height: 5.5 cm Width: 5.5 cm Depth: 5.5 cm Weight 287 g Condition In near-mint condition; the piece shows no visible scratches or damage, and appears to have been displayed in a showcase rather than used. No original box or accessories included. Artist Profile 黒木国昭 Kuroki Kuniaki (1945–) Born in 1945 in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, Kuroki Kuniaki is widely regarded as one of the foremost glass art masters in Japan. After joining a Tokyo glass manufacturer upon graduating high school in 1963, he devoted himself entirely to the art of glass, beginning his independent creative practice in 1974. In 1984 he established himself as an independent artist, and in 1989 founded Glass Art Kuroki in Aya-cho, Miyazaki. In 1991, he became the first glass artist ever to receive the Japanese government's highest honor for craftsmen — the "Meiko" (Outstanding Contemporary Craftsman) award. He played a central role in the restoration of the lost Satsuma Kiriko cut-glass tradition and in 1997 achieved the world's first successful reproduction of Émile Gallé's lost masterwork "Columbine Vase," a feat celebrated internationally. His works — which fuse the decorative vocabulary of the Rinpa school and ukiyo-e with Western glass techniques such as pâte de verre and overlay glass — are held in collections worldwide and have been exhibited in Venice, Paris, Rome, Hong Kong, Dubai, and Taiwan's National History Museum. He has received numerous international awards including the Grand Prize at the Paris Arts Festival (1995) and the Rome International Art Exhibition Grand Prize (1996). NOITICE: The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by Japan Post, DHL or FedEx depend on the situation. It takes about 3 weeks to receive normally. Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Sometimes Customes or delivery company in your country contact you for Customs clearance via phone or email. Please make sure that you could answer the phone. If you don't, the parcel will return to me and it cost more double shipping fee for reshipping. I appreciate your cooperation.