Glass ”YOBITUGI”Tea Container[Inscription: Budo Karakusa-mon Nishiki] (5th-Generation Tatumura Heizō × Nishinaka yukito)

<p>We are pleased to present a collaborative work by <strong>Heizo Tatsumura V</strong> and glass artist <strong>Yukito Nishinaka</strong>.<br> This unique creation brings together the philosophy of Heizo Tatsumura V—<em>"The Dynamic Spirit and Liberation of Japanese Aesthetics"</em>—and Yukito Nishinaka's artistic vision of <em>"Destruction and Rebirth."</em> Named <strong>"Grape Arabesque"</strong>, this one-of-a-kind piece takes the form of a traditional <em>katatsuki</em> tea caddy. The Grape Arabesque motif, one of the most iconic designs preserved in the Shosoin Treasury, features an elegant composition centered on a four-petaled floral medallion surrounded by gracefully intertwining vines arranged in an eight-petal pattern. Long regarded as an auspicious motif symbolizing prosperity and good fortune, it is beautifully expressed through Nishinaka's signature <em>Glass Yobitsugi</em> technique, making this a truly one-of-a-kind work of art.</p> <p><em>Glass Yobitsugi</em> is a unique technique in which the artist intentionally breaks a hand-crafted glass vessel and reconnects the fragments using molten glass. The concept is inspired by traditional Japanese restoration techniques such as <em>Kintsugi</em>, in which broken ceramics are repaired with lacquer, and <em>Yobitsugi</em>, where fragments from different ceramic pieces are joined together with lacquer to create an entirely new work. Reinterpreted in glass, this process transforms destruction into renewal, giving each piece an unrepeatable character.</p> <p>The accompanying <em>Shifuku</em> (protective silk pouch) is crafted from the same <strong>Grape Arabesque Brocade</strong>. Woven in richly colored warp brocade using multiple silk threads, it was custom tailored by renowned <em>Shifuku</em> artisan <strong>Keiko Tada</strong>.<br> The lid is handcrafted by Kyoto lacquerware artisan <strong>Hyoetsu Miki</strong>, completing this carefully curated work of exceptional craftsmanship.</p> <p><strong>■ Glass Artist – Yukito Nishinaka</strong><br> Working under the theme of <em>"The Brilliance of Life, Rebirth, and the Eternal Cycle,"</em> Yukito Nishinaka creates glass artworks inspired by the timeless aesthetics of Japan. His signature series include <em>Glass Yobitsugi</em>, in which shattered glass is reconstructed into new forms, and <em>Glass Karesansui</em>, expressing the eternal cycle of the universe and life through glass. Using recycled glass as his primary medium, Nishinaka explores the transformative nature of glass—breaking, melting, and reconnecting—to express a world of renewal, continuity, and perpetual circulation.</p>