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