Zalto Gravitas Omega 2 Pack

The Burgundy bowl with no foot at all, resting instead on a sphere at the base of the stem.

Zalto Glas is a family glassworks in Austria's Kremstal, where every piece is mouth-blown by hand and made without lead, the bowls angled to 24, 48 and 72 degrees after the tilt of the earth. The Gravitas Omega takes the widest bowl in the range and removes the base from under it. In its place there is a sphere at the foot of the stem, and the glass sits on a small flattened area on its side, so it lies at an angle on the table rather than standing on it. This version also carries a flat edge on the bowl, which settles the piece and stops it travelling across the cloth. Above that it is the Burgundy shape as usual: a broad bowl, a large surface area and thin mouth-blown walls. Shannon Bennett brought it to our attention after meeting it in Europe.

There is something theatrical about it, so treat it as a glass for show or for the collector who already owns every other shape; supplied as a two pack. Hand-wash in warm water without detergent and dry with a lint-free cloth.