Sculptural coffee table made from hand-blown Murano glass

The “Soda Coffee Table” collection is truly unique, with each piece looking like a work of art. Italian furniture company Miniforms collaborated with Greek designer Yiannis Ghikas to create this stunning collection of coffee tables made entirely from blown Murano glass. The tables come in two sizes and two colors: vibrant amber and elegant petrol green.

Unique expertise

Named after one of the three main components of glass, the Soda Coffee Table series is made upside down. Each piece weighs around 20 kg and is blown, stretched and crafted by three glass artisans in Murano. “Throughout the research and design process for Soda, I was surprised to see how few blown glass products of this size and type exist. I later realised that this was due to the technical difficulties inherent in working with such objects and the level of expertise it requires, expertise held by just a handful of skilled artisans on the Italian island of Murano,” says designer Yannis Gikas.

Photo credit: Alessandro Di Bon and Laura Pozzi Studio

Photo credit: Alessandro Di Bon and Laura Pozzi Studio

Optical illusion

The table was made with the aim of playing with glass and exploring its shapes in different dimensions. When viewed from certain angles, darker areas are visible due to overlapping layers of glass. “One of our main aims was to play with one of glass's most distinctive properties – its transparency – so we designed an object with a shape that allows you to play with light and shadow and create different shapes as the perspective changes,” adds Yannis.

Photo credit: Alessandro Di Bon and Laura Pozzi Studio

Photo credit: Alessandro Di Bon and Laura Pozzi Studio

Functional Art

These vibrant creations were hand-crafted by skilled Murano glass blowers, who had to meticulously regulate a complex burner system to keep the temperature constant throughout the mould, which was essential to creating the final smooth yet uneven surface texture. To create each table, three artisans working simultaneously were required to add the finishes. Because the glassblowing process is unpredictable, the designers had no control over the glass texture, so each table has a unique tactile feel and pristine surface and aesthetic.

Something old and something new

“Soda's style reflects our brand: iconic, simple, colourful and even funky. We have a light-hearted approach to design and Soda reflects that attitude. We also love mixing traditional elements of the past, such as working with Murano glass, and incorporating it into a contemporary environment. A saying we sometimes tell ourselves is: 'It's okay to look at the past, but don't stare at it,'” concludes the Miniforms spokesperson.

See also:

Amazing! This lamp can also be used as a table lamp.