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Classification
metal

伊藤祐嗣

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Yuji Ito

Ito Yuji (伊藤祐嗣) was born in Tokyo. He graduated from the Craft Department of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Tokyo University of the Arts in 1985, completed its graduate course in forging (tankin) in 1987, and studied sculpture in Florence until 1989. He completed the university's doctoral course in 1992 and taught there part-time until 1995, and began working in Oho, Outer Boso, in 1995. His workshop is called spina pesce. [9, 3, 10]

Profile

Background

Yuji Ito was born in Tokyo and trained in metal at Tokyo University of the Arts: an undergraduate craft degree in 1985, a master's specialization in metal hammering / tankin in 1987 and a doctorate completed in 1992. Between the master's and doctorate he studied in Florence, entering a sculpture program through 1989. He then taught part-time at Tokyo University of the Arts before establishing an independent practice in coastal Chiba in 1995.

In Florence, Ito encountered handmade Italian milk and paella pans and later rebuilt those forms through the Japanese tankin vocabulary in which he had been trained. His studio name spina pesce refers to the herringbone brick pattern associated with Brunelleschi's dome.

His practice includes polished silver, lacquered drinking vessels, lighting and interiors, and cookware: pans, katakuchi and drinking/serving tools that are tinned and heated.

Practice

Hand-hammered metalware in copper, brass and nickel silver; vessels are lacquer-coated outside and tin-plated inside; the shop presents milk pans, sake warmers, katakuchi and tea coasters, and the maker's own site lists a paella pan and a pasta sauce pan in copper, brass and tin. [10, 9, 5, 11, 12]

Work over time

  1. Education Graduated from the Craft Department, Faculty of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts. · Tokyo University of the Arts · Faculty of Fine Arts, Craft Department [9, 3]
  2. Education Italian government scholarship, sculpture department of the Florence fine arts school (フィレンツェ美術学校彫刻科), until 1989, as stated on the maker's own chronology. · フィレンツェ美術学校 · 彫刻科 · Florence, Italy [9, 10]
  3. Education Completed the graduate course in forging (tankin) at Tokyo University of the Arts. · Tokyo University of the Arts · Graduate course, forging [9, 3]
  4. Education Completed the doctoral course at Tokyo University of the Arts. · Tokyo University of the Arts [9, 3]
  5. Studio Open Began making work in Oho, Outer Boso. · Oho, Outer Boso, Chiba, Japan [9, 3]
  6. Teaching Served as a part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts until 1995. · institution: Tokyo University of the Arts [3]

Collections

  • commission — 熱田神宮 (Atsuta Jingu), Kaguraden: Brass lighting fixtures and pull handles for the Kaguraden hall, as listed among works on the maker's own site. [9]
  • commission — はせがわ酒店 (Hasegawa Saketen): Lighting for the GRANSTA Tokyo and Nihonbashi stores and sugidama ornament roofs, as listed among works on the maker's own site. [9]

Evidence and sources

References

  1. Exhibitions — spina pesce
  2. 伊藤祐嗣 (@spina.pesce) — Instagram Retrieved 2026-09-28
  3. 伊藤祐嗣 金工展 — ギャラリー上方銀花 Retrieved 2026-09-28
  4. spina pesce -スピナペッシェ- 伊藤祐嗣鍛金工房 | チルチンびと広場 Retrieved 2026-09-28
  5. – 川口美術開業30周年記念 – 伊藤祐嗣 金工花器展 Retrieved 2026-09-28
  6. gallery uchiumi on Tumblr Retrieved 2026-09-28
  7. 瑞玉ギャラリー｜展示会のご案内 — 伊藤 祐嗣 鍛金展（2018年） Retrieved 2026-09-28
  8. 伊藤祐嗣 個展 — 銀座 黒田陶苑
  9. spina pesce — 伊藤祐嗣金属工芸工房
  10. 伊藤祐嗣 | かたくち屋（片口の店・名古屋） Retrieved 2026-10-02
  11. 伊藤祐嗣 金工展 - 川口美術 (エキサイトブログ) Retrieved 2026-10-02
  12. 伊藤祐嗣 金工展 (川口美術, 2025-07-08) Retrieved 2026-10-02