Suntory Museum of Art
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Collection
Notable Works
Three-tiered cut-glass boxes with lid

Notable Works

Glass

Three-tiered cut-glass boxes with lid

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Place of production or style: Japan
Number of components: 1
Format and materials: SG 3.53～3.56
Dimensions (in cm): W. 15.7, D. 15.7, H. 22.5
Date of production: Edo - Meiji periods 19th century

The three-tiered boxes are covered in a wickerwork pattern. A record states that Monjirō of the Kagaya, a glass wholesaler in Edo, came up with a way to cut glass using emery powder in 1834 (Tempō 5). During the Kyōhō era (1716-1736), the prohibition on importing Western books wa s lifted, and research in many fields, including glassmaking, advanced. As a result, thick glass of high quality began to be made in Japan; it is inferred that cut glass (kiriko) production began in the first half of the nineteenth century. Such glass materials and cut glass were called diamante ("diamond") in Portuguese. That term evolved into the Japanese loanw ord giyaman.

Notable Works

Three-tiered cut-glass boxes with lid

SUNTORY MUSEUM of ART