Description

Xandre Store Exclusive A Distinguished Contemporary Ryukyu Glass Work by 2025 Modern Master Craftsman Hideyoshi Matsuda

1. Artist: Hideyoshi Matsuda (松田 英吉)
2. Studio: Ryukyu Glass Takumi Kōbō (琉球ガラス匠工房)
3. Acquisition: Takumi Kōbō, Onna Village, Okinawa, Japan
4. Studio Headquarters: Ishikawa, Uruma City, Okinawa
5. Category: Okinawan Hand-Blown Glass | Fine Art Statement Vase | Collector Studio Glass
6. Craft Tradition: 宙吹ガラス (Chūfuki — free-form hand-blown glass)

Discover a striking expression of contemporary Okinawan glassmaking through this sculptural Earth Edition vase from Takumi Kōbō, created within the artistic tradition of Hideyoshi Matsuda (松田英吉), the studio's representative and a 2025 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Modern Master Craftsman (現代の名工) as well as an Okinawa Prefecture Traditional Craftsman.

Acquired through Takumi Kōbō's Onna Village location, the piece reflects the studio's continuing exploration of Okinawa's natural landscape through hand-blown glass. Takumi Kōbō's official profile identifies Matsuda's Earth series (アース壺) among his representative works, describing the series as expressing the warmth of earth and the strength of nature through distinctive texture and color. This particular vase expands that earth-inspired language into a dramatic oceanic composition, combining deep cobalt and lapis-blue glass with luminous metallic-gold elements and organically formed internal bubbles.

Celestial Ocean & Gold Leaf Earth Edition Vase

The vessel features an elegant, sculptural silhouette with a gently narrowed waist and outward-flaring rim. Deep blue currents move through the body in sweeping layers, creating the visual impression of ocean depth, while lighter elements and suspended metallic-gold details introduce flashes of light across the surface.

The combination of blue glass, organic internal movement, bubble formations, and gold-leaf elements gives the vase a particularly dynamic appearance. Rather than relying on a perfectly uniform surface, the work celebrates the variations produced through hand-forming and the interaction of heat, glass, color, and air. The result is a substantial statement vessel that can be appreciated equally as functional studio glass or as a contemporary sculptural work.

Hideyoshi Matsuda - Modern Master Craftsman

Hideyoshi Matsuda (松田英吉) was born in 1962 in Onna Village, Okinawa. According to Takumi Kōbō's official biography, he entered the Ryukyu glassmaking field in 1981, became independent and established Takumi Kōbō in 2000, and has continued developing both glassmaking techniques and younger artisans. His documented career includes recognition as an Okinawa Prefecture Traditional Craftsman in 2009, an Okinawa Prefecture Outstanding Skilled Worker in 2020, a 2022 Okinawa Prefecture Governor's Award in the regional specialty-products competition, and selection as a 2025 Modern Master Craftsman (現代の名工).

Takumi Kōbō's official profile also highlights Matsuda's distinctive techniques, including ねじり技法 (nejiri twisting technique) and the studio's finely textured 泡カレット (awa callet) bubble-glass process. These documented techniques place the present work within a contemporary Okinawan glassmaking practice that combines traditional handwork with ongoing technical experimentation.

Earth, Ocean & Light

The visual character of this vase comes from the contrast between its major elements:

1. Deep cobalt and lapis-blue glass create a rich oceanic foundation.
2. Lighter glass passages provide depth and movement within the darker body.
3. Metallic-gold elements introduce warm flashes of reflected light.
4. Naturally formed internal bubbles add dimensionality and optical variation.
5. Free-form shaping gives the silhouette an organic, sculptural character.

Under changing light, the gold and blue surfaces interact differently from one viewing angle to another, making the vase particularly effective as a display object.

Traditional Chūfuki Glassmaking

Chūfuki (宙吹き) is a free-form mouth-blown glassmaking process in which the artisan gathers molten glass and shapes it through controlled blowing, rotation, heating, and hand manipulation.

Unlike industrial production, the process allows the maker to respond continuously to the material while the glass remains workable. Subtle differences in pressure, temperature, rotation, color placement, and shaping contribute to the individuality of each finished work.

Takumi Kōbō describes its glassmaking philosophy in similar terms: each piece is individually formed by artisans from molten glass, with variations in bubbles, color, and form contributing to the fact that no two works are exactly alike.

Gold-Leaf Elements

The vase incorporates gold-leaf elements within the glass composition, producing small areas of metallic brilliance against the deep blue body. These details become especially expressive when illuminated from the side or viewed against a neutral background, where the gold appears to move through the darker glass rather than simply sitting on its surface.

Note: For the final product page, I recommend identifying the material simply as gold leaf / gold-leaf elements unless the accompanying studio documentation specifically confirms the gold purity and production process.

Premium Highlights

1. Artist: Hideyoshi Matsuda (松田英吉)
2. Recognition: 2025 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Modern Master Craftsman (現代の名工)
3. Craft Certification: Okinawa Prefecture Traditional Craftsman
4. Studio: Ryukyu Glass Takumi Kōbō
5. Acquisition: Takumi Kōbō, Onna Village
6. Technique: Traditional free-form mouth-blown glass (Chūfuki)
7. Series: Earth / アース
8. Visual Language: Deep ocean blue, lapis, lighter glass accents and metallic-gold elements
9. Surface Character: Organic hand-formed variations and internal bubble formations
10. Marking: Identifying maker/studio mark on the base, if present and documented
11. Character: Individually hand-crafted contemporary Okinawan studio glass
12. Edition: Individual studio work; exact repetition is not expected

Curator's Note

The appeal of this Earth Edition vase lies in its meeting of earth, ocean and light. Deep cobalt glass creates the impression of Okinawan waters, while suspended gold elements introduce moments of warmth and brilliance within the darker composition.

Its sculptural proportions and individually formed interior movement allow the work to function beyond conventional tableware—as a contemporary statement object that brings the visual language of Okinawan hand-blown glass into a refined interior or private collection.

Specifications

Dimensions & Physical Specifications (Estimated Studio Proportions)

1. Height: ~22.0 – 25.0 cm (~8.7 – 9.8 in)
2. Maximum Diameter (Bulb/Waist): ~13.5 – 15.0 cm (~5.3 – 5.9 in)
3. Opening Diameter (Top Lip Outer): ~6.5 – 7.5 cm (~2.6 – 3.0 in)
4. Base Diameter (Unglazed Contact Base): ~7.5 – 8.5 cm (~3.0 – 3.3 in)
5. Net Weight: ~1,200 – 1,600 g (~2.6 – 3.5 lbs)

Care Instructions

1. Handle with both hands, particularly when moving the vessel.
2. Clean gently with lukewarm water and a soft microfiber cloth.
3. Avoid abrasive pads, scouring powders and harsh chemical cleaners.
4. Do not place in a dishwasher.
5. Avoid sudden temperature changes and direct contact with extreme heat.
6. Display on a stable, level surface away from areas where the vessel could be knocked or tipped.
7. When displaying the piece permanently, use a secure, appropriately sized display surface.

Shipping & International Delivery

Domestic Japan: Carefully packed in protective, impact-resistant packaging and shipped using an insured delivery service appropriate for fine glass.

International: International delivery can be arranged where available. Packaging and carrier selection should be determined according to the vessel's size, weight and fragility. International customers are responsible for any applicable customs duties, import taxes, VAT/GST, brokerage fees or other destination-country charges.