Yes, it is really glass.” While researching Kimiake Higuchi’s work for this article, I came across this note below Cabbage Leaves, one of Higuchi’s most renowned pieces. The comment highlights how closely her work comes to imitating nature (apparently the editor was tired of answering inquiries from people who doubted that the piece was actually made of glass).

Once you see Higuchi’s work, this editorial note is no surprise. Higuchi refers to her art as a sort of “fossilization,” whereby she works with living flowers and vegetables as the basis of her glasswork. Says Higuchi, “I start the process of [artistic] creation by raising the flowers and vegetables that will become the motifs of my work.” Then, using these living models, she essentially sculpts botanicals in glass. She strives to capture the ephemeral aspect of nature, such as seasonal changes and the realistic color and growth in botanicals. Yet, says Higuchi, “I’ll never do better than [nature]. The natural world is amazing.”.