Polish design duo New Craft has created a collection of hand-blown glass vessels with copper «collars» that provide a reflection of the plants inside (+ slideshow).
Product designer Agnieszka Mazur and product innovation researcher Kacper Latecki of New Craft developed the Narcissus collection in collaboration with Polish craftsmen.
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The vessels are made by glassblowers, using wooden moulds and a traditional colouring method in which finely ground coloured glass is added to the molten glass bulb.
«It’s more risky and requires more skill, but you get very nice results with interesting effects, such as gradients, whirls and dots,» Mazur told Dezeen.
Some of the vessels sit in metal stands that are welded in a workshop, and the copper collars are hand-spun and polished to reflect the flora displayed in the vases.
This references the Greek myth about Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water and also gives his name to a type of flower.
«The mirror lens around the plant appropriates the image of its surroundings and makes the plant observe its own reflection,» said the designers. «Narcissus represents nature as delicate and requiring protection, but also as selfish and egotistic.»
The collection was developed in response to research carried out by the pair that suggests an increase in the popularity of houseplants.
«People are coming back to them, but in a different way – it’s more about being organic than decorative. But we should remember that the organic is also independent to some extent,» the designers explained.
Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts graduate Agnieszka Mazur and social psychologist, moderator and researcher Kacper Latecki established New Craft with the aim of showcasing low-volume production with local craftsmen.
The Narcissus collection launched at this year’s Lodz Design Festival, which continues until 19 October.
