Edo-kiriko for Kimoto Glassware
Edo-kiriko glassware, often cited as a local specialty of Tokyo, originated in 1834. Traditional edokiriko typically cover the surfaces of red or blue glass with several cuts, but this particular design has focused on the aesthetic quality of a single cut. It has taken a simple two-layered cylinder of transparent and black glass, etching into it a single stroke. There are a number of stroke designs, from single horizontal or vertical cuts to diagonal helix or parabola-shaped cuts. Peering through the etching in the black part, one will notice the reflections of light let in by the transparent part, creating a variety of beautifully nuanced patterns inside the glass.