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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Murano & Italy Glass => Topic started by: horochar on January 14, 2006, 05:18:49 AM

Title: Who is Toshi Iwata ?
Post by: horochar on January 14, 2006, 05:18:49 AM

At last, I've determined the maker: Toshi Iwata, "Murano."  However, there's absolutely no information on him or company he worked for on the internet.  When was this made?  Who did (does) he work for?  Where was this made?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.
(http://tinypic.com/k51tsi.jpg)

Title: Toshi Iwata
Post by: horochar on January 22, 2006, 02:52:47 PM

I've reposted, with updated information and new questions.  Again, any help would be appreciated.

Title: Who is Toshi Iwata ?
Post by: KevinH on January 22, 2006, 07:20:28 PM

Ivo's glass fact file a-z states only that Toshichi Iwata was a studio artist from Japan, 1893-1980. Could this be the same "Toshi Iwata" you mention? From a few English language web sites, it is clear that Toshichi Iwata's son, Hisatoshi is also recognised in this field. I found nothing to suggest either of them had connections with Murano. There are many Japanese language sites covering these glass artists.

Title: Who is Toshi Iwata ?
Post by: Anne on January 22, 2006, 07:51:52 PM

A search for Toshi Iwata brought some more examples of his work - all attributed Toshi Iwata Murano (but nothing more):

http://liveauctioneers.com/s/lot-725940.html

http://antiquehelper.com/item.php?itemID=6479 ... and then the same vase more images ... http://www.danripley.com/catalogs/may1stcatalog/Image_0017_0506_0001_Med.htm

... another mention but photo gone ...
http://www.agopb.com/catalogue/011705/Catalogue1.html

... and another here ... http://www.danripley.com/images/Catalog%20May%2099/Glass%20Singles/709.jpg

None of the above have any bio info but searching for Toshichi Iwata I found a past exhibition at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City: http://www.kemperart.org/exhibits/PastExhibits/ContemporaryGlass.asp

Also, Ivo Haanstra's book A-Z Glass Fact File  (Miller's - 2001) gives this:
Toshichi Iwata, studio artist from Japan, (1893-1980).

I do not know if Toshi and Toshichi are the same person, but it may be worth contacting the Kember Museum and asking if they have any more info from the exhibition.

Hope this helps a little.

Title: Toshi Iwata
Post by: horochar on January 22, 2006, 08:16:06 PM

Thanks for the information.  My own internet and auction catalog researches yielded a dazzling array of values, from $400-600 presale estimate at Toomey Treadway for a bowl virtually identical to mine to a Kovel's Online value of $22 (!!) for a "Midcentury" vase described as "Black Internal Layer, Orange, Red, White Murrines, Toshi Iwata, 10 In."  I'm still puzzled about any "Murano" connection, as mentioned in some websites, and I'm clueless as to when and where it was produced and who he trained under.  I'm guessing he isn't a savant who came up with this all by himself in Japan.  Oh well.  At least I now know when he lived!

Title: Who is Toshi Iwata ?
Post by: chuggy on January 22, 2006, 08:46:39 PM

Might be worth dropping Alex in Venice an e-mail, he may know of a Murano connection.
Paul