Edo Kiriko

Cut glass from Tokyo with geometric patterns inspired by Edo period aesthetics.

Edo Kiriko is a cut glass craft originating in Edo (Tokyo) in 1834, when glass artisan Kagaya Kyubei first applied European-style cutting techniques to glass vessels. Characterized by intricate geometric patterns — including nanako (fish roe), kagome (bamboo lattice), and chrysanthemum — cut into colored glass overlaid on clear glass, each piece refracts light into dazzling prismatic effects. The craft combines Western glass-cutting technology with distinctively Japanese pattern sensibilities, producing functional art pieces prized for serving sake and whisky.