［ 12・Final Installment ］Ear Sculpture
［ 12・Final Installment ］ Ear Sculpture Ear Sculpture The interchangeable ears are an intriguing feature, and Mr. Oda says he enjoys displaying the piece in his bedroom. (Photo: Noritsugu Oda) This work is by the sculptor Tomio Miki, who devoted his short life of just forty years to creating sculptures of ears. Like the piece I mentioned in an earlier article, it came from the estate of the architect Mayumi Miyawaki, and it is one that I treasure as well. I do not know how Mr. Miyawaki acquired it, but an acquaintance of mine who imports and sells Italian products saw it and remarked, “This is quite a valuable piece.” […]
［ 11 ］Whisky Bottle
［ 11 ］ Whisky Bottle Whisky Bottle “I’ve heard that there are no teetotalers among Nordic people. Perhaps this is a gentleman heading to a bar under the moonlight.” (Photo: Noritsugu Oda) This is an exceptionally rare glass bottle hand-painted by Tapio Wirkkala himself. It even bears his signature on the reverse. His work covered an extraordinarily wide range of fields, and he designed almost everything found in everyday life, including commemorative stamps, banknotes, coins and vodka bottles. Even so, hand-painted pieces like this are extremely unusual. The painting is full of expression and gives a sense of his personality. I found it at Be-Generated, a vintage shop in Kyoto […]
［ 10 ］A Sounding Object
［ 10 ］ A Sounding Object A Sounding Object It’s about 35 cm high. When the nine metal rods sway and strike one another, they produce a beautiful sound (Photo: Noritsugu Oda) This is a scaled-down version of a sculpture by the Italian-born sculptor Harry Bertoia. A full-size version stands at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in the United States, Bertoia’s alma mater. These miniature sculptures are presented as commemorative gifts to people who have given lectures at the academy. This one belonged to Akio Izutsu, then president of Nor International Japan. When Mr. Izutsu decided to sell his house, he told me he would like to donate the furniture […]
［ 9 ］Wooden Dolls
［ 9 ］ Wooden Dolls Wooden Dolls The girl measures 130 mm in height and the boy 127 mm, with movable arms. Each piece was handmade by craftsmen. (Photo: Noritsugu Oda) These small dolls, called puunukke (pronounced something like Puunukke), were designed in 1943 and manufactured and sold by the Stockmann department store. They reflect the shy and sincere nature often associated with the Finnish people, don’t they? Designer Kai Frank produced an extraordinary number of sketches in order to create these dolls. This particular set is a rare first-edition model, which I purchased from a vintage shop in Kyoto that I have been visiting for more than 30 years. […]
［ 8 ］Brass Bird Paperweight
［ 8 ］ Brass Bird Paperweight Brass Bird Paperweight Tapio Wirkkala’s lintu bird measures approximately 10 cm in length. Its subdued golden color stands out beautifully against the black case, which also serves as its base. (Photo: Noritsugu Oda) When the new owner of my house in Higashikagura signed the contract in the autumn of 2025, they gave me this as a gift, saying, “To commemorate taking over this house.” It is a paperweight manufactured in 1975 by Kultakeskus (apparently pronounced Kurutakesukusu in Japanese pronunciation). At my home in Sapporo, I display it next to the glass bird by Kai Frank introduced previously in this series. Of course, letting go […]
［ 7 ］Glass Bird Object
［ 7 ］ Glass Bird Object Glass Bird Object “Isn’t the slightly downward tilt of its head adorable?” He says he displays it on a bookshelf in his bedroom together with birds and glass bottles by Tapio Wirkkala. (Photo: Noritsugu Oda) This is Woodcock by Kai Frank, a nationally beloved designer often affectionately called “the conscience of Finnish design.” A small bird art piece measuring 112 mm in length, it was designed in 1954 and manufactured by Iittala until 1968. Since it has never been exhibited before at exhibitions or elsewhere, this is its first public appearance. Though somewhat abstract and not clearly identifiable as a particular species of bird, […]
［ 6 ］The Bottom-Shaped Memo Holder
［ 6 ］ The Bottom-Shaped Memo Holder The Bottom-Shaped Memo Holder “I love this slightly twisted part here — it’s beautiful.” Notes or photographs can be placed upright in the groove at the corner. (Photo: Noritsugu Oda) One year after architect Mayumi Miyawaki passed away, I received a call from the person managing his estate, saying, “In accordance with his will, we would like to donate his belongings.” When I agreed, what arrived was astonishing: 70 cardboard boxes. Not only were there books and magazines related to architecture, but also photographs from his travels around the world — all on positive film — enough to fill an entire cabinet measuring […]
［ 5 ］Horse-Shaped Container
［ 5 ］ Horse-Shaped Container Horse-Shaped Container Horse-Shaped Container Made for a declaration of love that did not succeed, it passed from person to person before becoming part of the Oda Collection. Perhaps this too is a kind of fate. (Photo: Noritsugu Oda) This object was passed on to a person who later came to Higashikawa as part of a regional revitalization program. They had received it from a local person during a visit to Finland. When that person decided to move from Higashikawa to Africa, they invited me to a bazaar where they were selling small personal items. I went, and at that time they told me the story […]
［ 4 ］Miniature Silver Chairs
［ 4 ］ Miniature Silver Chairs Miniature Silver Chairs Miniature Silver Chairs Its small size is evident from the fact that the height of the base is just 4 cm. Exquisitely detailed craftsmanship. “You can feel what is embedded in small things.” (Photo: Noritsugu Oda) These were given to me by Andreas Graversen (now deceased), former chairman of the furniture company Fredericia, as a gift for the company’s 50th anniversary. They are miniature versions of Børge Mogensen’s Spanish Chair and High-Back Chair, made by a silversmith. I originally had two sets. One is part of the Oda Collection (currently on display in Higashikawa), and the other is at my home. […]
［ 3 ］Glass Vessel from India
［ 3 ］ Glass Vessel from India Glass Vessel from India Glass Vessel from India “The charm of non-uniformity” created through mouth-blowing and handwork. At the Oda residence, it is displayed in combination with modern objects. (Photo: Noritsugu Oda) I bought this at “Baihodo” in Asahikawa, a shop I often visited after moving to Hokkaido. It’s always enjoyable to come across primitive objects by chance. It was made in India, and I’m not exactly sure what it was used for—probably to hold some kind of liquid. It contains many impurities, its shape is uneven, and it is not very stable. Even if someone asks why I bought it (laughs), it […]