PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – Consider the lowly mussel: Found in oceans and rivers throughout the world, revered in Belgium, and delicious with French fries, their uniquely elongated, asymmetrical shells make them one of nature’s most beautiful bivalves.
This winter, ARTĚL – the globally renowned producer of luxury crystal couture – celebrates these often-overlooked undersea creatures with MUSSELS, an exciting new design motif that emphasizes their sleek contours in a stylishly unexpected way.
Featuring a hand-sandblasted depiction of boldly striped mussel shells arranged in layers, MUSSELS is based on a vintage silver and enamel cigarette case designed by Koloman Moser, a co-founder of the early 20th-century community of Austrian artisans known as the Wiener Werkstätte, whose work is a frequent source of inspiration for ARTĚL’s founder, Karen Feldman.
“One of the things I like best about this striking new motif,” says Feldman, “is the way it works as both an abstract pattern and a depiction of actual mussel shells, which makes it that much more versatile in terms of fitting into a variety of home décor settings.” As for color choice, Feldman notes that “while it looks great in any color, MUSSELS is especially well suited for dark, neutral colors like Black or Smoke.”
Established in 1998 by American designer and entrepreneur Karen Feldman, ARTĚL specializes in handcrafted, functional crystal glassware of high design. The company takes its name from an early-20th-century collective of Czech artisans whose dedication to preserving the traditional methods of handcraftsmanship led them to reject industrial production techniques. ARTĚL carries on the spirit of these artisans and their commitment to producing – entirely by hand – lasting objects of impeccable quality, design, and functionality. ARTĚL’s innovative product line can be found on the shelves of Asprey, Christian Dior and Neiman Marcus, among other exclusive retailers.
CONTACT
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PRAGUE TEL +420 271 732 161
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