Zwiesel Glas has launched Symbiosis – a decanter which expertly pairs fine crystal glass with selected stone.
Covered in the finest craquelure giving the impression of great fragility contrasting with a natural, pristine stone base, Symbiosis is a visual feast for the eyes.
Zwiesel Glas tells us: “The decanter and base nestle together in their precisely harmonised shapes. In Symbiosis, the traditional craftsmanship of the glassmaker merges with that of the stonemason. Together, they create a handmade, exclusive and unique piece that is unrivalled. The decanter is handmade in small quantities by master glassmakers in Zwiesel, while the soapstone base is quarried and worked in Finland. This ensemble is completed with a high-quality felt underlay.”
The stone base is made from stone which is more than 2.8 billion years old and is carefully crafted by hand in north-east Finland and precisely moulded to the shape of the mouth- blown decanter. Finally, the base is carefully finished with the Zwiesel Handmade logo. Zwiesel Glas adds the natural soapstone stores cold better than other natural materials, especially if the stone base is placed in the refrigerator for two to three hours.
The decanter, meanwhile, is crafted by a master glassmaker. “Years of experience are required to cover the mouth-blown carafe with such filigree crackle,” Zwiesel Glas reveals. “The master glassmaker skilfully combines fire and water, heat and cold. He dips the still glowing glass into a mixture of sawdust, which catches fire in an instant and burns itself into the decanter. Now the decanter has to be held in the glass furnace, which is over 1300°C hot, to heat it up again. The glassmaker then immerses it in ice-cold water. It hisses and steams in front of the furnace. And the decanter reveals its delicate crackle.”
