Blue Murano glass bottle by De Majo, designed by Yoichi Ohira, from 1992

Blue Murano glass bottle with an amber leaf-shaped stopper, designed by Yoichi Ohira for De Majo in 1992

Ø cm 8 h cm 27

Yoichi Ohira (1946–2022) was one of the most original figures in contemporary glass, combining Japanese aesthetic sensibility with Murano’s great artisanal tradition.

After moving to Venice in the 1970s, he developed a practice deeply rooted in collaboration with Murano glass masters, including Livio Serena and Giacomo Barbini. His works, often made as one-of-a-kind pieces, combine traditional techniques such as murrine, canes, filigree, and incalmo with sophisticated surface treatments.

In his vases, glass takes on an almost painterly and tactile quality: colors, textures, and transparencies evoke stones, water, landscapes, and natural forms. The encounter between Japanese culture and Venetian craftsmanship gave rise to an immediately recognizable language, making Ohira a leading figure in art glass and collectible design.