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.
Read more about Sanyu Glass here.
Following the Second World War, Japan's manufacturing sector underwent a period of rapid industrial expansion. During the 1960s and 1970s, domestic glass furnaces shifted their primary focus from utilitarian household items, to producing highly decorative art glass, targeted at the booming Western export market.
This era established Japan as a dominant force in global mid-century glassware production, allowing them to directly compete with the established European glasshouses of the period.
Read more about Japanese glass production here.
THIS LISTING
Model Vase
Colour Aubergine, Lime Green
Production 1960s/70s
Dimensions 27cm (10.5") tall, 15.5cm wide
Condition Excellent condition with no wear that we can see. Retains its original label.
