Takasago Collection® Gallery Special Exhibition 2026

“Light and Fragrance: A Collection of Glass Perfume Bottles”

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Takasago Collection® Gallery is pleased to present the 2026 special exhibition, "Light and Fragrance: A Collection of Glass Perfume Bottles."

The invention of glass by humankind is believed to date back to the ancient Near East around the 25th century BC. Later, as glassmaking techniques developed in ancient Egypt and Rome, glass came to be used as a container for perfumed oils. It may be said that the history of fragrant liquids has always been closely linked to glass.

Glass, primarily made of silicon dioxide (SiO2), takes on various properties depending on the added substances. Throughout its long history, humankind has made use of these chemical properties to continually develop new manufacturing and processing techniques. To this day, glass―with its freedom of form, color, and diverse textures―has served as a medium for artists to express their creativity.

This exhibition presents a selection of works and materials from the Takasago Collection® that allow visitors to experience the beauty of glass and its diverse history, ranging from ancient glass containers to magnificent 19th-century Bohemian perfume bottles and original works by contemporary glass artists.

The exhibition also features a special display of new perfume bottles and documentary footage of the glassmaking process, presented in cooperation with the Tokyo Glass Art Institute in Ota Ward, Tokyo, and Toyama-based glass artist Mitsuaki Ikeda.

A talk event on glass art is also planned during the exhibition period. Details will be announced on this page at a later date.