Multi Glass was founded in 1919 by Hirokichi Nakajima in the Fukuoka Prefecture, the furnace originally operated under names including Nakajima Glass and Fukuoka Special Glass. While the factory quickly established a reputation for immense technical prowess - famously winning a Grand Prix for their exquisite art glass at the 1937 Paris World Expo - it is their incredibly vibrant, mid-to-late 20th-century output that truly cemented their enduring legacy in the global vintage market.
The company's most sought-after era is defined by their mastery of 'Multiple Layer Glass,' the intricate, labour-intensive technique from which the brand eventually derived its famous Multi Glass name. Glass blowers expertly suspended ribbons of glass within thick, heavy clear casings. During the 1960s and 1970s, this method was used to produce vases, centrepieces, and a wildly popular range of sculptural animal figurines. Authentication relies on surviving foil stickers, which are frequently found bearing the Multi Glass mark (occasionally translated phonetically by international sellers as Marti Glass).
While the original Multi Glass factory closed its doors in 1999 after an 80-year run, a dedicated group of its master craftsmen refused to let the legacy die. In 2000, these artisans successfully acquired the rights to the name and opened a brand new, smaller-scale studio in Fukutsu City, ensuring that the historic craft of Fukuoka layered glass continues to be produced to this very day.
THIS LISTING
Model Swans
Production 1970s/80s
Colour Pink
Dimensions 21.5cm (8.5") and 18cm (7") tall
Condition Excellent condition with no wear we can see. Both retain their original labels, and come with their original vintage packaging (which does show light wear).
