Shades of Glassware

Dynamic colored crystal vessels might seem strikingly modern, but prismatic glass has roots that stretch back to ancient Egypt and Rome. Relics of tinted glass can be seen in museums across the world and these attest to the enduring history of colored glassware. Although the beauty of cerulean vases suggest that they were made with a serene intention, their conception came into being through error rather than design. In the first century BC when glass blowing became the most common method of making glass, impurities in the materials used often left the objects with an unintended tint – something that is still seen in glass today.

Craftsmen then used this discovery to their benefit, by introducing another element they were able to color glass intentionally – for example adding gold to turn glass red, or copper to turn it blue. What was initially an accidental imperfection became a way of crafting objects of exquisite beauty, illustrating how the road to artistry is not always obvious. Spontaneity is an important aspect of creation and occasions when plans go awry can be especially fruitful.

Centuries have passed since this discovery was made and expert glassblowers are still finding new ways to tint and pattern the material to create lustrous pieces. The artistry of Laurence Brabant Edition’s patterning of borosilicate glass conveys the intricacy of the craft, and the way AYTM mixes the radiance of colored glassware with the sheen of brass to make objects of distinct modernity highlights the unending innovation possible with this ancient technique. Glass will always have a seat at the table – shop shades of glassware for every taste, space and occasion.

"Shades of glassware for every taste, space and occasion."

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