A new feature has started to pop up on trendy tablescapes: coloured glassware. Glittering, sometimes cracked inside like fractured ice, glass appears in shades of claret, saffron, and aquamarine. These multi-coloured creations scatter refracting light across the table, glimmering and glittering across delicate linens. And it does not end with drinkware. Designers are reimagining vases, pots, and ornaments in the same vivid tones.
Despite the sense of novelty, coloured glass is far from new. The technique dates back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, where artisans blended metallic oxides into molten glass to achieve jewel-like tones. By the Middle Ages, cathedral windows glowed with cobalt and ruby, flooding interiors with kaleidoscopic light. Venice’s Murano island became synonymous with the craft, producing everything from goblets to chandeliers, their molten forms infused with lapis, emerald, and topaz shades.
For centuries, coloured glass was associated with grandeur and symbolism. It adorned palaces and churches, denoting wealth and prestige. Yet by the 20th century, mass production dulled its magic. Transparent tumblers dominated, functional but rarely expressive. The revival we are witnessing now is, in many ways, a response to that monotony.
One designer at the forefront of this return is Daniel Nikolovski, founder of TRAGA. His journey into glassware was largely unplanned. Originally trained as a furniture designer, Nikolovski had been working on collectible design pieces before glassware caught his imagination.
“One Christmas, I had the idea to make a martini shot glass,” Nikolovski says. The piece he is referring to is bifunctional, with one side designed for martini cocktails and the opposite side for shots. Made from hand-blown borosilicate glass, the pieces are made in two contrasting colours - think blue paired with green and amber with lilac. “It was the first product we launched as a brand. The response was overwhelming.”
“You can change the narrative with tableware so much,” Nikolovski continues. “Most glassware brands are simply functional and focussed on simple designs. I think people are getting bored with having only transparent essentials in their homes. They want character, something unique.”
TRAGA’s pieces are also inspired by the brutalist architecture of Nikolovski’s native Skopje, Macedonia. “The geometrical purity of the designs recalls these structures, while the varying hues soften the pieces,” he says.
For those tempted to bring the trend home, coloured glassware can be styled in various ways. Nikolovski describes two prevailing approaches. “Either you keep the table-scape sterile and allow the pop of colour to shine,” he explains. “So you can do stainless steel serving platters and white linens with the pieces.”
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Another approach is more extravagant. “You can incorporate colourful floral arrangements and patterned ceramics to create a kaleidoscope of tones,” Nikolovski advises.
Coloured glassware can extend far beyond the dining table as well. Jewel-toned vases can be placed along windowsills or shelves in order to catch the sunlight, casting shifting shadows on the walls. Small bowls or vessels can brighten bathroom shelves, while larger pieces transform mantels into focal points. Even in bookshelves or entryways, coloured glass adds depth and unexpected moments of refracted light.
For those ready to purchase some coloured glassware for themselves, here are some of our favourite brands:
TRAGA
TRAGA stands as one of the most exciting new players. Its debut Martini Shot Glass encapsulates Nikolovski’s ethos – hyper-functional yet design-driven, rigid in shape but softened by colour. From Milan, the brand continues to explore collaborations, rethinking how tableware can transform the atmosphere of a room. traga.it
Helle Mardahl Studio
Helle Mardahl Studio operates at the intersection of art and function, producing glass pieces that feel straight out of a fantastical candy universe. A Central Saint Martins graduate, Mardahl’s glossy aubergine, olive-adorned tumblers and opaque cocktail glasses turn everyday rituals into whimsical performances. hellemardahl.com
6:AM Glass
6:AM Glass redefines Murano traditions through contemporary research and innovation. Their projects stretch from sculptural objects to architectural installations, pushing the potential of reclaimed and reprocessed glass. Pieces from their FLOAT collection, created from salvaged glass during Milan Design Week 2024, embody their commitment to circular design while maintaining extraordinary beauty. 6am.glass
Nina Campbell
Nina Campbell has long been revered for her interiors, but her glassware selection deserves equal attention. Alongside precious antiques from the early twentieth century, her collection includes new pieces that showcase her signature rich palette – think hand-blown bowls in mottled colours. ninacampbell.com
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