Hiroko SHOAMI
This body of work belongs to Saishitsu Hari, a distinctive series in which delicately engraved glass is layered with lacquer, gold leaf, and mother-of-pearl inlay. The tea bowls are made of heat-resistant glass, combining everyday usability with refined beauty. The sake cups and pendants capture the brilliance of gold leaf as it shimmers in the light, while the depth and iridescence of mother-of-pearl lend the works a dignified and luminous presence.
The vessels are designed to elevate special moments, while the pendants may be enjoyed as one-of-a-kind wearable objects that embody the beauty of Japanese craftsmanship.
At the core of this practice lies a traditional glass engraving technique that originated in 16th-century Venice, in which the surface of the glass is carved using a diamond-point needle. By fusing this Western glass tradition with Japanese lacquer artistry, artist Hiroko Shoami has developed a unique form of expression known as Saishitsu Hari.
Onto transparent glass, lacquer, gold leaf, and mother-of-pearl are lavishly applied, creating a new aesthetic where radiant brilliance, the deep luster unique to lacquer, and a quiet sense of warmth coexist. Resonating between East and West, tradition and innovation, these original glass works represent a truly singular artistic vision born in Japan.
All stages of production are carried out entirely by the artist in her private studio in Japan. Within a calm and focused working environment, each piece is carefully completed—from the engraving of the glass to the application of lacquer, gold leaf, and mother-of-pearl. Free from mass production, every work is a one-of-a-kind creation, imbued with the delicacy and individuality that only handcraftsmanship can achieve.
• 2009 – Guild Exhibition: 21st Century Engraved Glass (UK), Emerging Artist Award
• 2012– – Exhibition of Japanese Glass, Tokyo and nationwide touring exhibitions
• 2018 – Hiroko Shoami Glass Tea Utensils Exhibition, Seishodo Yamashita (Tokyo & Kyoto)
• 2019 – Selected for the Traditional Crafts—Various Media Exhibition; Lecture and solo exhibition at the Urasenke School of Tea Ceremony
• 2023 – Selected for the Tableware Awards, Original Design Category; Selected for the Japan Traditional Culture Grand Prix
• 2025 – Japan Traditional Culture Grand Prix, Excellence Award