Dear Reader, here is a space for musings, observations, and dialogues on glass, design, tableware, and more. Here, we share our thoughts and those of our guests, artists, designers, and thinkers who bring new perspectives to the ornamental and the everyday. Have a question? Ask away.

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The philosophy of table objects: Five times in history, this cup was illegal

Apr 27, 2026

Five governments, five centuries, five spectacular failures. Coffee has been banned under penalty of death, by royal proclamation, by manifesto, by soldiers with their noses in the air. And every single time, the cup outlasted the king. It turns out what they were afraid of was never the drink it was what happened when people sat down together and had no particular reason to leave. New essay on the blog.

The philosophy of table objects: Five times in history, this cup was illegal

The Heart in Glass: A Valentine's Meditation

Feb 9, 2026

Before it meant love, the heart was a seed. Before Europe wrote romance, the East had already perfected it in poetry and song. From silphium to Majnun and Layla, from medieval manuscripts to Palestinian ataaba, the heart shape carries centuries of longing. A meditation on love, glass, and what happens when you hold both up to the light.

The Heart in Glass: A Valentine's Meditation

The Philosophy of Table Objects: The Freezable Swizzle Stick

Nov 21, 2025

What was missing was not another vessel, but a line a presence that could slip into the glass and awaken what rested inside. The freezable swizzle stick arrived beautifully, carrying an ancient philosophy: that you can cool without clouding, stir without disturbing, influence without intruding. A tool that became more than its function.

The Philosophy of Table Objects: The Freezable Swizzle Stick

Sanad Khoury: " The Glass Café " , Through Glass, We See Ourselves.

Oct 27, 2025

In this Ornamental read, contributing writer Sanad Khoury explores how glass reveals the hidden layers of human consciousness from Damascus’s Glass Café to Tennessee Williams’s Menagerie. A meditation on fragility, repetition, and the courage to shatter illusions. Read Through Glass, We See Ourselves in Read Ornamental

Sanad Khoury: " The Glass Café " , Through Glass, We See Ourselves.

The Philosophy of table Objects: The Egg Cup

Oct 2, 2025

The egg cup is one of those charmingly absurd inventions that seem utterly unnecessary. Yet its history stretches back to 1700 BC, and it has something interesting to tell us about the art of table.

The Philosophy of table Objects: The Egg Cup

A Five-Minute Guide to Setting a Poetic Table

Sep 29, 2025

A table can be more than a surface for plates it can be a poem of light and color. In just five thoughtful minutes you can create a setting that feels alive: choose a mood instead of a theme, anchor the scene with a single piece of glass art, and add a quiet surprise for guests to discover. A Five-Minute Guide to Setting a Poetic Table invites you to turn every meal into a small act of wonder.

A Five-Minute Guide to Setting a Poetic Table

An Ornamental Take on Milan

Jun 10, 2025

Milan is a city of quiet contradictions, industrial yet delicate, historic yet ever-evolving. This is our guide to the places that resonate with the Ornamental spirit: whimsical, elegant, and deeply rooted in design and emotion.

The Glass You Weren’t Allowed to Touch: Nostalgia, Memory, and the Teta Collection

Mar 9, 2025

The Teta Collection is a quiet rebellion against the glass cabinets of the past. Inspired by my grandmother’s vitrine, where delicate treasures waited patiently for special occasions, these pieces are designed to be held, used, and loved now, not later. The pearly handles tip their hat to old-world, while the soft curves whisper of heirlooms remembered. Because the best things in life tea, laughter, the weight of a glass in your hand aren’t meant to gather dust. They’re meant to be lived. So pour the tea. Assemble the guests. Open the vitrine. → Explore the Teta Collection

The Glass You Weren’t Allowed to Touch: Nostalgia, Memory, and the Teta Collection

Michele Fazio: Glass as Creation, The Shifting Boundaries of Chaos, Order, and Beauty

Feb 20, 2025

Michele Fazio: Glass as Creation, The Shifting Boundaries of Chaos, Order, and Beauty Designer Michele Fazio reveals his deep connection with glass, as a material that flows between chaos and order. His renderings, featured in the Read Ornamental section, capture molten glass in its raw form, showcasing its fluidity and unpredictability. Through his lens, glass becomes a symbol of creation where chaos and structure work hand in hand.

The Rebellion of Craft: Why Artisanry Still Matters in a World of Mass Production

Feb 11, 2025

In a world dominated by mass production and disposable design, something remarkable is happening, people are turning back to the handmade, the storied, the imperfectly perfect. Glassware was once a craft of breath and fire, each piece infused with the artisan’s touch. Today, uniformity has stripped objects of their soul and authenticity, leaving behind a sea of sterile, factory-made replicas. But the resurgence of hand-blown glassware and slow design signals a shift—one where consumers seek not just objects, but pieces with meaning, heritage, and artistry.

The Rebellion of Craft: Why Artisanry Still Matters in a World of Mass Production

A Bar, a Planet, and a Glass of Lilac Foam: Ornamental by Lameice x KOI 11

Jan 29, 2025

Discover the vibrant world of KOI 11, where wellness meets color in a playful new bar inside Koibird's London flagship. Ornamental by Lameice has created a bespoke collection of glassware for this immersive space, featuring coffee cups, plates, and barware in shades of pink and purple. These whimsical, handcrafted pieces perfectly complement KOI 11’s bold new look, transforming each drink into an experience.

A Bar, a Planet, and a Glass of Lilac Foam: Ornamental by Lameice x KOI 11

Öykü Özal: From Playtime to Plate – How Childhood Memories Inspired My Collaboration with Ornamental by Lameice

Sep 14, 20242 comments

What if your most significant dining experience didn’t involve food at all? In this whimsical exploration, Öykü Özal reflects on a childhood game of imaginary restaurants and how it inspired her collaboration with Ornamental by Lameice. Together, we’ve woven nostalgia, tradition, and playful creativity into a design story that bridges cultures and evokes joy. From glassware with a wink to AI-generated table settings, this project celebrates the beauty of whimsy, imperfections, and the deep connections forged around a table.

Öykü Özal: From Playtime to Plate – How Childhood Memories Inspired My Collaboration with Ornamental by Lameice