Japanese Glass Identification Guide + Gallery
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There is currently not all that much known about the Japanese glass industry, but more and more quality pieces of glassware are appearing, bearing Japan labels. Not just new glass, but vintage pieces from around 1950's - 1970's, the quality and style of which rivals Murano, Scandinavian, and Czech glass production.
Buy Japanese Glass Products in our Online Glass StoreIwatsu Glass
Iwatsu Glass Co. was, and still is, based in Osaka, Japan. They produced colourful art glass during the 1970's, the quality and style of which matched, and is often mistaken for, Italian Murano glass and Czech glass from the same era. From labelled pieces found online, they seemed to have had two main ranges or brands, which were "Hineri", and "Art Glass".
A Japanese green, pink and blue glass vase. Made by the Iwatsu glassworks, from their "Hineri" range.
A Japanese green, pink and blue glass bowl. Made by the Iwatsu glassworks, from their "Hineri" range. Labelled "Best Art Glass, Foreign".
A Japanese yellow, red and blue glass bowl. Made by the Iwatsu glassworks, from their "Hineri" range. Labelled "Best Art Glass, Foreign".
A Japanese orange, yellow and blue glass vase. Made by the Iwatsu glassworks, from their "Hineri" range. Labelled "Best Art Glass, Foreign".
A Japanese green, pink and blue glass handerchief style vase. Made by the Iwatsu glassworks, from their "Hineri" range.
A Japanese green, pink and blue glass bowl. Made by the Iwatsu glassworks, from their "Hineri" range.
A Japanese yellow, red and blue glass basket shaped vase. Made by the Iwatsu glassworks, from their "Hineri" range. Labelled "Best Art Glass, Foreign".
A Japanese yellow, red and blue glass jug shaped vase. Made by the Iwatsu glassworks, from their "Hineri" range.
A Japanese yellow, red and blue glass vase. Made by the Iwatsu glassworks, from their "Hineri" range.
A Japanese yellow, red and blue glass vase. Made by the Iwatsu glassworks, from their "Hineri" range.
A Japanese orange, red and blue glass bowl. Made by the Iwatsu glassworks, from their "Hineri" range.
A Japanese pink and clear glass vase. Most likely made by the Iwatsu glassworks, from their "Hineri" range.
Sanyu Glass
Sanyu Glass Co. is based in Osaka, Japan. They have been producing art glass since approx 1950's, and like Iwatsu the quality and style is similar to, and is often mistaken for, Italian Murano glass and Czech glass from the same era. Known labels include a black and silver circular label which reads "Registered, Sanyu, Made in Japan", and red and gold labels which read "Fantasy Glass", sometimes including the name "Narumi", which is apparently a homeware brand that Sanyu glass has been marketed under.
A Japanese amber, pink and blue glass bowl. Made by the Sanyu glassworks, from their "Fantasy" range.
A Japanese amber, pink and blue glass bowl. Made by the Sanyu glassworks, from their "Fantasy" range.
A Japanese green, pink and blue glass vase. Most likely made by the Sanyu glassworks, from their "Fantasy" range.
A Japanese green, pink and blue glass vase. Most likely made by the Sanyu glassworks, from their "Fantasy" range.
A Japanese amber, pink and blue glass bowl. Made by the Sanyu glassworks, from their "Fantasy" range.
A set of six Japanese green glass tumblers with white spiral striped pattern. Made by the Sanyu glassworks, labelled and boxed.
Label reads "Registered, Sanyu, Made in Japan".
A Japanese green glass jug with white spiral striped pattern. Made by the Sanyu glassworks, labelled and boxed.
Sasaki Glass
Sasaki Glass Co. was founded in 1902, in Tokyo, Japan, by Sojiro Sasaki. They produced tableware and art glass. In 2002 they marged with Toyo Glass Co., to become Toyo-Sasaki Glass (TSG), and still operate today.
A Japanese creamy orange glass bowl / ashtray. Made by the Sasaki glassworks, marked to base with the factory logo.
Sasaki glassworks, embossed factory logo.
A Japanese creamy purple glass bowl / ashtray. Made by the Sasaki glassworks.
A Japanese creamy green glass bowl / ashtray. Made by the Sasaki glassworks.
A Japanese green glass bowl / candle votive. Made by the Sasaki glassworks, labelled "Sasaki Glassware, Japan".
Sasaki glassworks label, reads "Sasaki Glassware, Japan".
Tajima Glass
Tajima Glass was founded in 1956, in Tokyo, Japan, by Matsutaro Tatsuta. They are known for coloured, textured and often mould blown or hotworked art glass. Tajima Glass are still operating today.
A Japanese red and white striped glass vase by Tajima Glass. With "TG, Made in Japan" label.
"TG, Made in Japan" Tajima Glass label.
A Japanese bark textured blue cased glass square vase. Can be found with labels that read "TG, Made in Japan". Most likely by Tajima Glass.
Reference: [link]
A Japanese bark textured red and black cased glass hexagonal vase. Most likely by Tajima Glass.
A Japanese bark textured red cased glass hexagonal vase. Most likely by Tajima Glass.
A Japanese bark textured blue cased glass hexagonal vase. Most likely by Tajima Glass.
A Japanese bark textured amber cased glass hexagonal vase. Most likely by Tajima Glass.
A Japanese bark textured amber & green cased glass cylindrical vase. Most likely by Tajima Glass.
A Japanese bark textured red & black cased glass cylindrical vase. Most likely by Tajima Glass.
A Japanese bark textured pale blue & dark blue cased glass cylindrical vase. Most likely by Tajima Glass.
A Japanese bark textured green cased glass cylindrical vase. Most likely by Tajima Glass. Has a "Best Art Glass, Foreign" import label.
"Best Art Glass, Foreign" import label.
A Japanese bark textured red & black cased glass vase. Most likely by Tajima Glass.
A Japanese bark textured blue cased glass vase. Label reads "S, Hand Craft". Most likely by Tajima Glass.
A Japanese bark textured red & black cased glass vase. Most likely by Tajima Glass.
A Japanese bark textured blue cased glass vase with inner white casing and iridescent finish. Most likely by Tajima Glass.
A pair of Japanese orange glass knobbly vases with outer clear casing. Can be found with import labels that read "Norcrest, Japan". Most likely made by Tajima Glass.
Reference: [link]
A Japanese blue glass knobbly vase with inner opal white casing. Most likely made by Tajima Glass.
A Japanese green glass knobbly vase with inner opal white casing. Most likely made by Tajima Glass.
A Japanese orange glass knobbly vase with inner opal white casing. Most likely made by Tajima Glass.
A Japanese blue glass knobbly cylinder vase with inner opal white casing. Possibly made by Tajima Glass.
Spiral Striped Glass
Several Japanese glassworks produced glassware in this style, particularily the coloured glass with white stripes, including Sanyu, Fukuoka Glass (FTG), Tajima Glass and Hokuyo Glass.
A set of six Japanese green glass tumblers with white spiral striped pattern. Made by the Sanyu glassworks, labelled and boxed.
Label reads "Registered, Sanyu, Made in Japan".
A Japanese green glass jug with white spiral striped pattern. Made by the Sanyu glassworks, labelled and boxed.
A Japanese yellow and white striped glass jug / pitcher. Probably by Sanyu. A similar but not identical desgin was made by Fukuoka Glass (FTG).
Reference: [link]
A Japanese red and white striped glass vase by Tajima Glass. With "TG, Made in Japan" label.
"TG, Made in Japan" Tajima Glass label.
A Japanese yellow and white striped glass vase.
A Japanese red and white striped glass vase.
A Japanese green and white striped glass vase.
A Japanese blue, green and white striped glass vase.
A Japanese orange, black and white striped glass vase. With "Nasco, Japan" import label.
"Nasco, Japan" import label.
A Japanese red, purple and white striped glass vase. With "Foreign" import label.
"Foreign" import label.
A Japanese blue, purple and white striped glass vase.
A Japanese black, green and white striped glass vase.
A Japanese green and white striped glass vase.
A Japanese red and white striped glass vase.
A pair of Japanese blue, green and white striped glass vases.
A Japanese purple, red and white striped glass vase.
A Japanese yellow and white striped glass vase.
A Japanese green and white striped glass vase. With "Enesco Imports, Japan" import label.
"Enesco Imports, Japan" import label.
A Japanese red and white striped glass vase.
A pair of Japanese purple and white striped glass vases. Labelled "Foreign".
"Foreign" import label.
A Japanese red and white striped glass vase.
A Japanese red and white striped glass vase in the style of a jug, with vertical ribbing.
A Japanese yellow and white striped glass bowl / ashtray.
A Japanese red and white striped glass bowl / ashtray.
A Japanese green and white striped glass bowl / ashtray.
A Japanese purple and white striped glass bowl / ashtray.
A pair of Japanese red, green and white striped glass vases.
A Japanese red, purple and white striped glass vase.
A Japanese grey glass vase with applied silver stripes and Japanese import label.
Label reads "Enesco Imports, Japan".
A Japanese blue and white striped glass vase.
A Japanese purple, green and white striped glass vase.
Hooped & Opal Cased Glass
A blue cased glass Scandinavian style hooped vase, made in Japan, labelled. A similar design was also made in Romania.
Label reads "Napcoware Import - Japan".
A red cased glass Scandinavian style hooped vase, made in Japan, labelled.
Label reads "Made in Japan".
A Japanese green uncased glass hooped vase or candlestick holder. Labelled "Japan".
"Japan" import label.
An amber uncased glass hooped vase or candlestick holder, most likely made in Japan.
A blue uncased glass hooped vase or candlestick holder, most likely made in Japan.
A Japanese blue glass hooped vase or candlestick holder with inner opal white casing.
A Japanese green glass hooped vase or candlestick holder with inner opal white casing.
A Japanese red glass hooped vase or candlestick holder with inner opal white casing, and outer clear casing.
A Japanese yellow glass hooped vase or candlestick holder with inner opal white casing, and outer clear casing.
A Japanese orange glass hooped vase or candlestick holder with inner opal white casing.
A Japanese amber glass hooped vase or candlestick holder with inner opal white casing.
A Japanese amber glass hooped vase or candlestick holder with inner opal white casing.
A Japanese purple glass hooped vase or candlestick holder with inner opal white casing.
A Japanese red glass hooped vase or candlestick holder with inner opal white casing. Labelled "Japan".
"Japan" import label.
A Japanese orange glass hooped vase with inner opal white casing.
A Japanese green glass hooped vase with inner opal white casing.
A Japanese blue glass hooped vase with inner opal white casing.
A Japanese blue glass hooped vase with inner opal white casing.
A Japanese blue glass hooped vase with inner opal white casing.
A Japanese green glass "Bamboo" vase with inner opal white casing. Can be found with import labels that read "Japan".
Reference: [link]
A Japanese orange glass vase with inner opal white casing. Same design as the following labelled red vase.
A Japanese yellow glass vase with inner opal white casing. Same design as the following labelled red vase.
A Japanese red glass vase, uncased but relevant here for reference. Japan import label.
Labels reads "Bond Ware, Japan".
A Japanese green glass textured vase with internal opal white casing. Labelled "Best Art Glass, Foreign".
A Japanese yellow glass vase with internal opal white casing. Labelled "Best Art Glass, Foreign".
A Japanese red glass vase with internal opal white casing, labelled.
Label reads "Foreign".
Japanese Lampworked Glass
A Japanese lampworked blue and white glass penguin, with "Red Ball" import label.
Japanese import label, reads "Red Ball Brand, Foreign Hand Made".
A Japanese lampworked green and yellow glass fish, with "Red Ball" import label.
A Japanese lampworked green and clear glass cat, with "Red Ball" import label.
A Japanese lampworked blue and white glass penguin, with "Irene Series" import label.
Japanese import label, reads "Irene Series, Foreign".
A Japanese lampworked blue glass bird, with "Irene Series" import label.
A Japanese white and purple glass dog sculpture. Can be found with labels and in boxed sets that read "Made in Japan".
A Japanese black glass dog sculpture. Can be found with labels and in boxed sets that read "Made in Japan". This one is labelled "Foreign".
Other Japanese Glass
A Japanese bark textured amber glass vase. Can be found with labels that read "Old Colony, Japan". Mistakenly identified as Riihimaki in the Millers Collectables books.
Reference: [link].
A Japanese bark textured blue glass vase. Can be found with labels that read "Old Colony, Japan". Mistakenly identified as Riihimaki in the Millers Collectables books.
A Japanese bark textured green glass vase. Can be found with labels that read "Old Colony, Japan". Mistakenly identified as Riihimaki in the Millers Collectables books.
A Japanese bark textured red glass vase. Can be found with labels that read "Old Colony, Japan". Mistakenly identified as Riihimaki in the Millers Collectables books.
A Japanese blue and opal white cased glass bowl / ashtray. These have been seen with "Wales, made in Japan" import labels.
Reference: [link]
A Japanese green and opal white cased glass bowl / ashtray. These have been seen with "Wales, made in Japan" import labels.
A Japanese yellow and opal white cased glass bowl / ashtray. These have been seen with "Wales, made in Japan" import labels.
A Japanese red and opal white cased glass bowl / ashtray. These have been seen with "Wales, made in Japan" import labels.
A Japanese turquoise green and opal white cased glass bowl / ashtray. These have been seen with "Wales, made in Japan" import labels.
A Japanese yellow and opal white cased glass bowl / ashtray. These have been seen with "Wales, made in Japan" import labels.
A Japanese bark textured amber glass vase. Can be found with labels that read "My Lady, Handmade, Japan".
Reference: [link]
A Japanese bark textured green glass vase. Can be found with labels that read "My Lady, Handmade, Japan".
A Japanese blue and clear glass swan shaped bowl / ashtray. Labelled "Best Art Glass, Foreign".
A Japanese orangey red and clear glass swan shaped bowl / ashtray.
A Japanese orange and clear glass swan shaped bowl / ashtray.
A Japanese orange, white and clear glass swan shaped bowl / ashtray.
A Japanese multicoloured rainbow glass ribbed bowl / ashtray.
A Japanese blue & white glass handkerchief vase.
A Japanese orangey red & white glass handkerchief vase.
A Japanese green glass vase / jug. Labelled "Best Art Glass, Foreign".
A Japanese green, pink and blue "rainbow" glass vase with spiral ribbed base and pinched rim. Made by the Kurata glassworks.
A Japanese purple, pink and blue "rainbow" glass vase with pulled out lobes. Probably made by Sanyu or Iwatsu.
A Japanese textured green cased glass stem vase with hotworked rim.
A Murano style green, orange and clear glass ribbed vase. Most likely made in Japan.
An unusual Murano style amber, blue and clear glass ribbed bowl / ashtray. Most likely made in Japan.
View more Japanese Glass examples in our Glass Reference Database
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Reference Websites
For more information on Japanese glass, check out the following resources: