Glass has fascinated man from a long- long time. However, the modern technology that has perfected the mass production process has killed the charm somewhat of glass we do come across some magnificent creations once in a while. Crystal still retains some of its exclusivity and the feeling of luxury. Hermes has taken over the French crystal manufacturer Saint-Louis. They are perhaps the oldest crystal manufacturer to have survived 425 years. They weren’t in a good shape as they were unable to keep up with the changing modern trends and designs.
Hermes has taken it upon itself to turn it around by giving the old designs a new and contemporary meaning and position it as the most luxurious option. They have commissioned six artisans to reinterpret two traditional shapes from the Saint-Louis archives. The result has been stunning to say the least. A twelve piece collection comprising six distinct 19th century inspired beer glasses and a flute has been created. The collection has been named Les Confidents.
This initiative by Hermes to bring back the centuries old design to the 21st century luxury market was supported by Centre International d’Art Verrier  or the International Glass Art Center of Meisenthal. It is an organization that supports the French Lorraine region’s history in traditional glass artistry. The glasses in Les Confidents collection are blown by mouth and hand cut. Each glass is embellished with 24-karat gold. It is a very precise craft and each glass requires 200 hours to make. The collection will be released this month and cost $315 for the mug and $415 for the flute.
