cup

In mid-19th-century Japan, luxury glass produced in Satsuma province was a major source of revenue. The province’s powerful leader, Nariakira Shimazu, encouraged the development and production of glass of high artistic quality. Red and dark blue were popular colors for luxury wares. On early examples, the cutting is “soft” and not highly polished. Later products, such as this sakazuki set, are sharply cut and highly polished. This set of three graduated and nested sake cups (with an accompanying glass stand) was cut from colorless glass covered with a dark blue overlay. It was reserved for ceremonial occasions, such as New Year celebrations and weddings. Sake, an alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice, is the drink of the gods of Shinto, the native religion of Japan.