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
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