Large Japanese Kazaribako Glass Box Ancient Captial Kyohei Fujita

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A Kazaribako "Ornamented Box" made of glass by Japanese artist Kyohei Fujita (1921-2004) circa 1990s. The hand-blown glass box is … Read more A Kazaribako "Ornamented Box" made of glass by Japanese artist Kyohei Fujita (1921-2004) circa 1990s. The hand-blown glass box is substantial in size and weight. It features a hexagonal form in a dark, near black color. Its thick glass walls are embedded with chucks of light-filtering crystal. The glass is infused with crushed gold and silver leaves, shimmering in the black obsidian-like glass. This specific ornamental pattern was called "Ancient Capital". The rim of both the cover and the body was lined with sterling silver. Etch signed on the base. It comes with an original tomobako box with Kanji inscription on the lid that read "Hand Blow, Ornamental Box, Ancient Capital". Under the lid, it was signed with the artist's name and red seal.

Graduated from the Tokyo Academy of Arts, Department of Metal Crafts at nineteen. At twenty-six he entered the Iwata Glass Co. and resigned two years later to establish a career as an independent artist. In 1973, Fujita presented the “Japanese Iris” themed Liuli box (a type of glass). The box was made with a technically complicated decoration that results in the magical jewel-tones. From that point on, the name Kyohei Fujita became synonymous with “Liuli box”. They were the most ornate and magical Japanese boxes in the world.
Reference: For other work with "Ancient Captial" motif, see page 35 of the catalog "Kyohei Fujita Museum of Glass". Illustration 112 on page 165 of the book “The world of Kyocera Fujitsu: a 70th Birthday Commemoration”. See less