Kutani Glass - Reiwa Kinhanazume Sorairo

Two Japanese Traditions, One Glass

Kutani ware is a ceramic tradition from Ishikawa Prefecture, known for expressive painting and a rich use of colour. Edo glass, developed in Tokyo, brings another kind of beauty: the clarity and subtle variations of glass shaped by hand. One invites us to look at a painted surface; the other lets us look through it.

Based in Nomi, Ishikawa, Seihodo brings these two traditions together in its Kutani Wa Glass collection. A hand-painted porcelain base supports a hand-blown glass bowl, joining two materials with very different textures and ways of catching the light. It is a way of enjoying Japanese ceramics through a familiar object that can find a place at many different tables.

Sorairo brings a soft sky blue to the porcelain base. The floral decoration gives the eye somewhere to linger, while the clear bowl above leaves the colour of the beer visible.

The Reiwa design reinterprets Kinhanazume, a floral painting style that emerged in 1913. Here, a gentler palette gives the traditional decoration a place among contemporary table settings, with the sky-blue colour tying the detail together.

Beer brings its own colour and movement to the clear bowl. Set the glass down between sips and the painted base comes back into view. It is an invitation to enjoy the vessel along with the drink, whether the evening is spent alone or in easy conversation with friends.