Crystal Blue – A little Bit About Ryukyu Glass

Even someone visiting Okinawa for a a very short period of time will no doubt be impressed by the wonder that is Ryuku Glass.  Okinawa glass making can be traced back approximately 100 years to the Mid – Meiji period.

In recent history it is said that the beer bottles and other discarded glass jars and containers, originating from the U.S. military occupation of Okinawa, were the raw materials for what became a very distinctive style of glassware.

 It is not surprising that Ryukyu glass is the most recent traditional craft to be officially recognised. In fact it was only officially recognised as late as 1998.  The glassware epitomises Okinawan ingenuity and resourcefulness at using the materials at hand in a new and interesting way.  There are other examples of the inventiveness of the Okinawans.  Later I will talk about the Shamisen and it is interesting that one way to make one after the war was to use a discarded tin.  These are still available and have a distinctive sound.

Looking at the colours of Ryukyu you could be mistaken for thinking you were looking into Okinawas crystal blue oceans and seeing the multi-coloured coral forms and brightly coloured fish beneath the water. A collection of glass is truly an amazing sight.

Glass as a material is normally associated with hardness and sharpness.  However some of the hand blown pieces of glass have an organic, almost gelatinous quality.  The bubbles in the glass are now added in a highly skilled process.  These add to the beauty of the glass and are not in any way to be considered imperfections.  In some pieces the bubbles appear to be precisely placed to enhance the piece in a unique way.

As you would expect there are masters of the art of Ryuku glass making and the good news is that there are many young Okinawans eager to learn the skills necessary to take this craft forward to the next generation.