Taisho Roman Tokusa Bowl

This is a glass bowl with the tokusa “horsetail” pattern from the Taisho Roman glass series by Hirota Glass, a long-established glass manufacturer in Tokyo.

The tokusa motif, cherished since the Edo period (1603 CE-1868 CE), symbolizes growth and prosperity. Its straight, upward-reaching lines embody aspirations for success and flourishing, making it a beloved design through the ages.

This pattern is created by the aburidashi “invisible ink” technique, which uses specially blended glass materials to form an opalescent, milky-white design. The patterns emerge due to the sudden change in temperature when the molten glass comes into contact with a precisely engraved mold.