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Japanese Edo Kiriko Glacier Whisky Glasses

Sale price$49 USD Regular price$60 USD


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In stock

Edo Kiriko is a type of traditional Japanese glassware that is made by hand-cutting and polishing clear glass. The Edo Kiriko style of glassware is particularly known for its intricate, geometric cut patterns that resemble the facets of a gemstone. The Glacier design of the whisky glass is one of the popular designs in the Edo Kiriko collection, and it is known for its elegant and refined look. The glass is typically used for serving whisky, but it can also be used for other types of spirits and beverages.

Craft: Edo Kiriko

Product:
1x Whisky Glass
1x Wooden Box
1x Coaster

Crafting Of Edo Kiriko

Design

The artist marks simple grid lines on the glass without drawing a design to provide the plan's framework. The design grid is drawn on the glass's surface using a bamboo stick or brush with red iron oxide. Next, the baselines of the design are lightly etched using a whetstone. Relying on these fine marks and lines, the delicate patterns of Edo kiriko are created with the artisan's expertise and skills.

First cuts

The base design is cut to about three-quarters of the final width and depth. The surface of the glass is cut using a sand paste-coated metal disc rotating at high speed. Generally, emery powder with many abrasive particles is used to create the sand paste. The clear pattern border lines and the irregular patterns are cut little by little. The balance between the thickness and depth of the cut lines relies upon the artisan's years of experience, as there are no detailed sketches.

Adjustments

The patterns cut in the second stage are adjusted, and the surface is smoothly polished in this process. A whetstone disc, natural or artificial, is used to cut delicate patterns which cannot be created with the metal disc used in the prior process. This is the last cutting stage to complete the designs, so careful work is required not to leave any powder residue and to ensure a brilliant finish.

Polishing

This is the final stage of production, and it is usually carried out on soda-lime glass (most prevalent type of glass). The opaque surface left by the third stage is returned once more to its original transparent state, with the attractive shine and sparkle typical of Edo kiriko. Chemical processing with hydrofluoric acid is also applied for high-class crystal glass. Depending on the piece, a variety of different polishing discs are used, such as paulownia wood discs, willow wood discs, hair brush discs, and belt discs. The final work is polished by applying water and polishing powders to obtain a glittering finish, while fine sections are polished with a cloth or a brush. To complete the final polishing, a cloth buffing disc is used to bring out the sparkle and shine of the cut glass.