In a remarkable achievement for craftsmanship and innovation, the glass violin created by Japanese glassware manufacturer HARIO has officially earned a world record, acknowledged by a Guinness adjudicator. This creation, originally crafted in 2003, has now gained recognition for its unique design and meticulous construction process.
Creating the glass violin was no simple feat. HARIO, renowned for its heatproof glassware, particularly its coffee and tea products, took on the challenging task of crafting an instrument from hand-blown glass, a material traditionally used for spherical objects rather than the intricate curves of a violin. Achieving the proper shape required painstaking effort, and maintaining consistent thickness across the entire instrument posed additional challenges. Weighing in at approximately 1.38 kg, the glass violin is heavier than the average wooden violin, which typically weighs around 0.8 kg.
There are currently two completed prototypes of the glass violin, one of which is on loan to Japanese violinist Ikuko Kawai, who uses it for performances. HARIO’s official website notes that the instrument produces a distinctive tone that differs from traditional wooden violins, especially due to differences in resonance. According to the makers, the tone is a mix between the traditional Japanese kokyū and a violin, with noticeable shifts in timbre at higher registers.
Although HARIO is primarily known for its glassware, the company has ventured into creating musical instruments as well. Since 2003, they have produced a variety of glass instruments, including a cello, guitar, cone speaker system, shakuhachi, Japanese drums, a shō, and even a 21-string koto. The largest of these glass creations is the koto, which weighs an impressive 70 kg, far heavier than its wooden counterpart, which typically weighs just 5 kg.
In celebration of the world record, HARIO has put a single glass violin up for sale at a price of 5.5 million yen (approximately $60,742 AUD). In the case of multiple buyers, the violin will be awarded through a lottery. This extraordinary piece of craftsmanship continues to capture the imagination of musicians and collectors alike.
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