Miniature Wooden Vases: Isamu Noguchi Collection

We discovered these pint-sized vases in Japan; their large presence in the room betrays their miniature size. Nagoya-based craftsman Takeru Arimitsu hand-turns each piece to express the beauty in the wood, the individual grain, burl and tone, making each vase unique. That’s some sleight of hand, given that each pot is only a few centimeters tall.

The shapes are inspired by Modernist Japanese and European design. The accentuated curves remind us of Isamu Noguchi’s 20th Century furniture.

Individual pieces sit on the tip of the finger, position them together for magical effect.