Shangri-La vol.17 - MIHO MUSEUM

Summer Special Exhibition
Japanese Ancient Glass:
From Comma-shaped Jewels to Vidro and Giamant

Saturday, June 15 to Sunday, August 20, 2006

Glass was introduced to Japan from as early as the Yayoi period (300 B.C.-300 A.D.). However, in the beginning, deep blue glass was used for personal ornaments, though in time, materials from abroad were melted and placed into casts to create glass magatama, comma-shaped jewels. The Yayoi people adorned themselves with these shiny blue and green glass jewels with other gems such as crystal and jadeite.

The many glass beads, excavated from the ancient tumuli, attest to the appearance of multi-colored beads, Persian cut glass, and imported blown-glass vessels during the Kofun (Tumulus) period (c. 250-600). Later, domestic production also began. In the age of Emperor Tenmu (d. 686), comprehensive workshops produced glass, as well as gold, silver, iron, bronze, lacquer, tortoiseshell, and tiles for the Court and for the large-scale construction of temples and Buddhist sculptures.

Rock Crystal Magatama
(Comma-shaped Bead)
Yayoi to Kofun period

Glass Ring

Glass Kodama (Small Beads)
Kofun period

Glass Marudama (Round Beads)
Kofun to Tenpyô period

In the Heian period (794-1192), however, large works in glass were extremely few. For some reason-whether supplies of glass materials and products were relatively inaccessible after Japan broke diplomatic relations with the continent or whether the Japanese of the time did not care for glass as much-crystal came to be more prevalent. Nonetheless, glass, though less frequent, continued to decorate containers that held precious objects, such as reliquaries and sutra cases, and could be seen on lavish boxes and cases for imperial gifts in literary texts such as The Tale of Genji and The Tale of Lady Ochikubo.


Jadeite Magatama Yayoi to Kofun period	Green Glass Magatama Yayoi to Kofun period
Agate Magatama Yayoi to Kofun period

Glass was mostly used as decorative elements and inlay material for Buddhist sculptures, ceremonial utensils, and Shinto jewels. After the Heian period, the production of glass jewelry enjoyed a revival in various regions.

Finally, in the latter half of the Edo period (1615-1868), domestic glass production began to flourish. Glass items, based on the few examples of European and Chinese models, such as vidro (vitrified glass) wind-bells and vessels, that came into Japan through Nagasaki, the only foreign trade port of the time, started to be developed. In the 19th century, a refined, thick cut glass called giamant was introduced. The technique, in which angular cuts are made into color-coated glass, also came to be used, giving rise to distinctively Japanese designs, which incorporated a blurring effect. In time, the Japanese became familiar with this medium, and ultra-thin, delicate blown glass vessels, not seen in other countries, came to be made, attesting to the fine quality of Japanese glass during the Edo period. Glass producers appeared in printed books, and beautiful women holding transparent objects were depicted in woodblock prints.

Glass finally became popularized and was no longer a luxury restricted to the upper class. This exhibition examines how glass as a transparent medium was perceived throughout the ages in Japan. It also explores how and for what purposes this precious material was used.
Glass Beads Kofun period