Classic Renaissance Paperweight – Glass – Dew Glow

Glass Paperweight by Naoya Arakawa

YSTUDIO partners with Japanese master glassmaker Naoya Arakawa to present the Classic Renaissance – Glass Paperweight (Dew Glow).

Inspired by the purity of morning dew, each piece captures a fleeting moment of nature – an organic, fluid, and luminous form. More than just a paperweight, it is a calming landscape to place on your desk.

Naoya Arakawa – Japanese Glass Artisan

Naoya Arakawa is a leading figure in the art of glass in Japan, with over forty years of experience. He is the heir to traditional glassblowing techniques and the entrepreneurial spirit passed down since the Meiji and Taishō eras, establishing himself as a true master in this field. Renowned for his mastery of the ancient chūbuki (宙吹き – free-blowing) technique, Arakawa reveals the unpredictable poetry of glass through the organic and spontaneous formation of air bubbles – celebrating the beauty of chance at the heart of the material.

Master of the Traditional Free-Blown Glass Technique – 宙吹き Chūbuki

Naoya Arakawa continues the ancestral Japanese glassblowing technique called chūbuki (宙吹き – free-blowing), passed down through generations. Without any mold, molten glass heated to 1300 °C is shaped solely by the artisan’s breath and hands, guided by instinct and experience. This intimate understanding of the material gives rise to pieces with fluid lines and a warm, organic presence.

The Art of Bubbles – Airstream Forming Technique

By channeling air through molten glass, Naoya Arakawa developed what he calls the “Airstream Forming Technique.” Each bubble, by its size, direction, and rhythm, is shaped by the artisan’s intentional gestures and settles where air, light, and material meet in perfect harmony. For Arakawa, bubbles are not flaws but vessels that hold memory and light. Refracted by the glass, even the simplest moments are delicately preserved within.

PRODUCT FEATURES

• Materials: soda-lime glass, brass
• Dimensions: 70 × 42 mm (tolerance: ± 5 mm)
• Weight: 300 g (tolerance: ± 100 g)
• Box: 110 × 110 × 60 mm
  ※ Please note that each paperweight is entirely handmade. Variations in weight, thickness, or bubbles are natural characteristics of the piece.

USAGE & CARE

• Place the paperweight flat on the stack of documents you want to hold in place.
• For better stability, use it preferably along the edge of your sheets, notebooks, or folders.
• Each paperweight is individually blown. Variations in bubbles, patterns, and thickness are normal and highlight the unique character of each piece.
• A solid brass insert is sealed into the base to visually and tactilely balance the object. The total weight is higher than a common object: handle it carefully to avoid drops and impacts.
• Avoid dropping or striking it. When not in use, place it on a stable surface, away from edges and out of children’s reach.

THE WEIGHT OF WORDS

How long has it been since you last picked up a pen to write from your heart?

Through words addressed to your loved ones or friends, you will rediscover the emotion, love, and tranquility hidden between the lines. With our love for words and materials, we present YSTUDIO stationery. Through YSTUDIO, we want to tell you a story of writing.

Let’s step away from screens for a moment to rediscover the forgotten pleasure of writing by hand. Feel again the warmth and weight of words.

LEARN MORE ABOUT YSTUDIO

YSTUDIO does not just create objects but also the meaning they carry. Each piece embodies a deep significance. Through their products, they aim to bring more imagination into everyday life, which is why they design objects intended for daily use.

YSTUDIO believes in the value of simplicity in design and considers it essential.