About the Maker

Sanyu Glass

Sanyu Glass (full name Sanyu Glass Factory Ltd) emerged in Osaka during the 1950s, a pivotal decade when Japan’s glass manufacturing industry was rapidly modernising and seeking new international audiences. While many local furnaces focused strictly on traditional, functional forms, Sanyu positioned itself at the forefront of the mid-century modern movement, dedicating its production to bold, contemporary art glass designed for the modern home.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the company built a massive global footprint by embracing the vivid, pop-art aesthetics of the era. Rather than producing delicate tableware, Sanyu focused on creating substantial, sculptural statement pieces. 

Surviving labels are useful evidence when identifying Sanyu glass. Recorded examples include black-and-silver labels reading “Registered, Sanyu, Made in Japan”, alongside red-and-gold “Fantasy Glass” labels, sometimes bearing the Narumi name. These names and label variants are associated with Sanyu’s decorative glass in specialist references, but should not be treated as a proven, exclusive division between export and domestic Japanese production. A surviving label or a close match to a documented example provides a stronger basis for attribution than a familiar shape or colour scheme alone.

Read more about Japanese glass production here.

Read more about recorded Sanyu and Fantasy Glass labels here.

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