Choice of masterpieces
The National Crafts Museum houses a diverse range of works that are worthy of being called “masterpieces”. Here, we will pick out representative works from each era and introduce them to you.
until 1920’s
Metal Works Suzuki Chokichi, Twelve Bronze Falcons , 1893 Photo: S&T PHOTO
Glass Works Emile Gallé, Holy grail, fig design , 1898 Photo: S&T PHOTO
Ceramics Kinkozan Sobei VII, Jar with lid, flower and birds design, overglaze enamels and gold , c.1884-97 Photo: Arrow Art Works
Metal Works René Lalique, Brooch, Winged Sylph , c.1898 Photo: S&T PHOTO
Metal Works Yokoyama Yazaemon II (Takasumi), Ornamental jar with chrysanthemum motifs , 1886-89
Industrial Design Christopher Dresser, Toast rack , 1881 Photo: Arrow Art Works
Ceramics Miyagawa Kozan I, Vases in relief, doves and cherry blossoms design , c.1871-82 Photo: Arrow Art Works
Lacquerware Tsuishu Yozei XX, Low table, six-petaled flower design, choshitsu, 1915 Photo: OMI Shigeharu
from 1920’s to 1940’s
Textiles Kimura Uzan, Kimono, bird and flower design, yuzen dyeing on crepe silk , 1934 Photo: Yoneda Tasaburo
Glass Works Sato Junshiro, Glass vase blown into forged iron work , 1940 Photo: Fujikawa Kiyoshi
Graphic Design Sugiura Hisui, The Only Subway in the East Service between Ueno and Asakusa is Started , 1927
Ceramics Itaya Hazan, Vase, incised peonies design, underglaze color and mat glaze , 1922 Photo: S&T PHOTO
Dolls Hirata Goyo, Taira-no-Koremori , 1936 Photo: Saiki Taku
Lacquerware Rokkaku Shisui, Bowl, flower design, maki-e on metal base , c.1935
Industrial Design Pierre Chareau, Desk with a bookshelf , c.1930
Metal Works Kitahara Senroku, Ornament, “Ram” , 1928 Photo: Arrow Art Works
Ceramics Ogawa Yuhei, Ceramic ornament : black panther , 1933 Photo: Saiki Taku
from 1940’s to 1960’s
Dolls Kagoshima Juzo, Doll, “ Sanu-no-chigami-no-otome“ , 1960
Ceramics Kaneshige Toyo, Water container with ears, Bizen ware , 1958 Photo: Arrow Art Works
Textiles Komiya Kosuke, Kimono, Edo komon, stencil dyeing on crepe silk, small dots pattern , 1958 Photo: Yoneda Tasaburo
Ceramics Arakawa Toyozo, Tea bowl, shino type , 1957 Photo: Oya Takao
Lacquerware Matsuda Gonroku, Cosmetic box, black pine and oak design, maki-e, 1955
Ceramics Kitaoji Rosanjin, Bowl, cherry blossoms, red leaves and cloud design, overglaze enamels and gold , 1951 Photo: S&T PHOTO
Ceramics Tomimoto Kenkichi, Ornamental octagonal box, fern pattern, overglaze enamels, gold and silver , 1959 Photo: Arrow Art Works
Bamboo Works Shono Shounsai, Koken (tiger cage) , 1959 Photo: Arrow Art Works
Metal Works Oki Hideharu, Sash clip in the shape of a citron , c.1944-68
from 1960’s to 1980’s
Graphic Design Kamekura Yusaku, The 18th Olympic Games , 1962 (1990 reprint)
Ceramics Yagi Kazuo, Drifting, 1961 Photo: Arrow Art Works
Textiles Serizawa Keisuke, Noren (doorway curtain), “The Character of Kaze (Wind)”, stencil dyeing on cotton , 1957 Photo: Yoneda Tasaburo
Industrial Design Mori Masahiro, P-type coffee service , 1974 Photo: Arrow Art Works
Lacquerware Kuroda Tatsuaki, Tea caddy, red lacquered, ridged spiral design , c.1980 Photo: Arrow Art Works
Ceramics Lucie Rie, Footed bowl with radiating sgraffito with manganese , c.1970 Photo: Arrow Art Works
Metal Works Sekiya Shiro, Vase, shakudo and silver hammered in a fish-scale pattern, shakudo and silver , 1975 Photo: Saiki Taku
Ceramics Tsuboi Asuka, The Fruits Made of Palladium , 1973 Photo: Arrow Art Works
Wood Works Himi Kodo, Box for tea utensils, sand-polished, Japanese larch , 1964 Photo: Oya Takao
from 1980’s to 2000’s
Textiles Munehiro Rikizo, Kimono, stripe and circular patterns, tsumugi silk , 1984 Photo: Arrow Art Works
Ceramics Matsui Kosei, Large jar, red-and-white layer pattern, neriage, 1981
Industrial Design Sudo Reiko, Feather Organdy , 1994 Photo: Saiki Taku
Ceramics Maeta Akihiro, Jar with faceted sides, white porcelain , 1996
Graphic Design Tanaka Ikko, Japan , 1986 ©Ikko Tanaka / licensed by DNPartcom
Ceramics Ogawa Machiko, 90U , 1990 Photo: Arrow Art Works
Other Works (Kirikane) Eri Sayoko, Clustered hexagonal boxes, kirikane, “ Rokka-shuko (six flowers gathering their fragrance)” , 1992 Photo: Arrow Art Works
Ceramics Tokuda Yasokichi III, Bowl, “Birth”, overglaze enamels, 1991
from 2000’s to present
Ceramics Tashima Etsuko, Cornucopia 02-XI , 2002 Photo: Saiki Taku
Ceramics Imaizumi Imaemon XIV (Masato),Vase, chrysanthemum design, overglaze enamel, sprayed underglaze black ink, sumihajiki and sekka, 2014 Photo: S&T PHOTO
Metal Works Osumi Yukie, Silver vase, “Underwater Dragon” , 2009 Photo: Arrow Art Works
Glass Works Takahashi Yoshihiko, Flower Like , 2004 Photo: Saiki Taku
Metal Works Hatakeyama Koji, Eight Faces , 2010 Photo: Arrow Art Works
Ceramics Takahashi Nami, Water container, white porcelain, 2016 Photo: S&T PHOTO
Ceramics Takahashi Tomoko, Blue water container, “Aldebaran” , 2017 Photo: S&T PHOTO
Glass Works Kojima Yukako, Dish, “Moon Flower”, layered glass , 2013 Photo: S&T PHOTO
Lacquerware Ikeda Terumasa, Tea caddy, “Infinite”, raden inlay , 2022 Photo: Nomura tomoya