Polishing fine crystal is about as relevant today as scrubbing soiled longjohns on a tin washboard. Nevertheless, a lot of current kitchenware is reaching for a yesteryear vibe - enameled pink Deco toaster, anyone? – and glass is close inside the curve.
The Clear Spanish Recycled Glass Extra Small Oyster Plate ($28, above) hearkens back to the days when failing to set a proper table was tantamount to indecent exposure. And while these artful lovelies, each 9″ by 5″ in a set of 4, will hold their own with any fine crystal, their odd kidney shape is too fun to be restricted to oysters. If you don’t happen to be oceanside, use them for tapas or mini desserts.
And then there’s Pyrex, that old-school brand name that sounds like a minor dinosaur species. Super-affordable, green glassware that’s made in the U.S.A., extinction-proof Pyrex ware is reportedly tough enough for oven, microwave, refrigerator, freezer, and dishwasher. The Smart Essentials 8-Piece Mixing Bowl Set ($29.99) is four glass bowls, ranging from 1 to 4 quarts. The other four “pieces” are simply the bowls’ plastic lids, a standard product presentation that still seems a trifle deceitful. Here’s the up side: All plastic lids made by Pyrex are certified BPA-free.
Natural Home’s handmade but reasonably priced 50204 Recycled Glass Large Serving Plate ($29.99) is square like Mondrian and comes in early-Coke-bottle green. Made of 100% re-used material, it’s a capital-p Piece, measuring 11 x 11 x 0.5 inches and just itching to host a spread of Chèvre Chaud on toast when it’s not sitting on some prominent shelf doubling as a work of art. Handle accordingly.
Likewise handmade, delicate and gallery-worthy, Rosanna’s Darjeeling Tumblers ($96), crafted from recycled glass, come in a set of six. A paisley design is etched against a background of Tiffany blue, and each glass can hold 16 oz. of lemonade, iced tea, absinthe or any other sweet poison best served in bold quantities. They’re not cheap, but they are beautiful, and devotees can buy dessert plates, mugs, espresso cups and saucers in the same design.
The Luigi Bormioli 84-oz. Pitcher ($24.99), also made of recycled glass, stands alone. Vintage bottle-green shows up again here, but the color’s so subtle you’d have to hold it to the light to really catch it. Thick and sturdy, with just a whiff of sophistication in its asymmetrical handle, the vessel is priced right, contains no lead crystal, and can safely join its Pyrex buddies in the rinse cycle.
