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Tradtional craft Edo-kiriko vase for sale at Amazon

Kagami Crystal

Kagami Crystal is one of the long-established crystal glass makers in Japan. There was no other factory which had integrated production systems around the country when the company started.

The founder Kagami Kozo （1896-1985）who had learned Gravure Cutting Techniques in Germarny pursued the artistic quality of the crystal glass.

His ambition bore fruit. He won the silver prize at the Paris World Exposition, the honorary award at the New York World Exposition, and the Grand Prix at the Brussels World Exposition.

The company still keep his belief “Hating a creation seeking a transient and ad hocery effect. Having always a spirit to create a truly valuable product”.

Today, three craftsmen Takei Morihiko, Hasegawa Hideki, and Matsuura Matsuo of the company and the traditional craftsmen produce the Edo-kiriko glassware.

Traditional craft Edo-kiriko

“Kiriko” means the Japanese cut glass. Most of the today’s Edo-kiriko is a flashed glass and have some kind of colors including blue, red, and purple. But it had no color in Edo Period (1603-1868).

It is said that the glass shop owner Kagaya Kyubei is the first person to make the Edo-kiriko in 1834. He engraved the patterns in the glasses with an emery.

Furthermore, Shinagawa Industrial Glass Factory was founded and the project to set up the glass industry got its start in 1873. After eight years, Japan government invited British engineer Emanuel Houptman and he taught the technique of cut glass to the dozen Japanese.

They established the technique of Edo-kiriko. Then the cutting way and materials were improved through the 20th century.

In 2004, the government designated Edo-kiriko as the Traditional Crafts. Still today, the craftsmen pursue the beauty and quality of the traditional glassware. They inherit the elegant and frank mind “iki” of the people in Edo.