How modern designers are transforming glassware from mere dining table staples to decorative accents

The glassware category now boasts unique products and new players elevating this conservative material to stylish new heights. Italian labels – including hip shoe brand Aquazzura and fashion and homeware brand La DoubleJ, to name just two – are coming to the table with colourful drinking glasses. German fashion label Jil Sander and Danish fine jeweller Sophie Bille Brahe recently launched handblown vases that reflect their respective design aesthetics, with chic details such as crackled textures and iridescent colour palettes.

“Decorative glassware, whether in the form of functional tableware or objects, is having a big moment because it’s easy, versatile, reflects light beautifully, and instantly adds a modern, elegant vibe to any interior space,” says Emily Wong, senior vice-president of merchandising for beauty, home and lifestyle, and fine jewellery at Lane Crawford.

“It’s super easy to add pops of colour with different textures and finishes, creating a sophisticated yet approachable atmosphere – plus, there’s a significant focus on personalising spaces with unique, artisanal pieces,” she says.

Glass lends itself well to decorative items, thanks to its ability to enhance light and its versatility. Like luxury handbags, these pieces are created using techniques that can be labour intensive and require a high level of skill, only adding to their allure.

Take, for example, handblown Murano glass, considered among the most covetable. Crafted exclusively on the eponymous island near Venice, it has a rich history that dates back centuries. Expert techniques have been passed down the generations, and are now evolving to embrace new styles and trends, attracting a whole new generation of buyers.

“To be honest, we are a little spoiled for glassware living in Italy, especially where we have the privilege of working closely with the master glassblowers of Murano. For centuries they’ve been at the cutting edge of glass design and innovation. There’s a constant desire to push the boundaries and bring the craft into the modern day, while all the time respecting traditions,” says Martina Mondadori, founder and editor-in-chief of Italian interiors brand and magazine Cabana.

Technical advances have also allowed new trends to proliferate within the category, especially in terms of colours, finishes and textures. Vibrantly coloured glassware has become a mainstay in tablescapes as it can reflect a homeowner’s personality. Wong highlights French crystal maker Saint-Louis’ Les Endiablés glass collection, known for its bold bi-coloured crystal (she says there’s an 18-month wait for a single handcrafted piece), while Cabana’s balloton glasses are equally mesmerising, with hues ranging from bold jewel tones to light pastels.