When hearing the name “Herend”, people who appreciate beautiful things, immediately think of quality hand-made porcelain and have done so for the past 180 years.

In the beginning, the small scale manufactory only had a couple of employees and has now become the largest porcelain making company producing hand crafted china in the world today.

The product range of the Herend Porcelain Manufactory Ltd. encompasses over 15,000 different shapes and more than 4,000 patterns, providing unique opportunities for its customers.

Craftsmen create products in the traditional way; all work phases are done by hand and testify to an outstanding level of aesthetic quality.

The Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix 2007 marks the second occasion that the Herend Porcelain Manufactory has been asked to create the Winning Driver and Best Constructor prizes.

Although it is quite difficult to find common ground between speed, horsepower and traditional hand-made china, it is true to say that engineering accuracy is a unique activity in its field – relating precision and aiming to achieve the impossible, which are characteristics of the greatest, be they on the Formula 1 circuit or in the field of craftsmanship.

A success writes an eternal page in the golden book of sports and the winners receive everlasting value, in the form of a timeless and beautiful Herend trophy.

The winning driver of the Hungarian Grand Prix 2007 was:
Lewis Hamilton - McLaren-Mercedes.

Web: http://www.herend.com
Tel:   (020) 7751 4199

Royal Copenhagen’s history inspired the new Heritage collection, consisting of four ornamental vases that can be used separately, or combined in an arrangement, in which both form and colour create a beautiful whole.

Hand-painted vases have played a prominent role in Royal Copenhagen’s product range ever since it was founded in 1775.

It took over a century to refine the technique that brought Royal Copenhagen the Grand Prix at the World Fair in Paris in 1900 and generated the international demand for Royal Danish vase art that continues to this day.

The four delightful new vases are decorated individually with their own attractive motifs including, butterfly, bamboo leaves, a bouquet of white carnations and twining bindweed.

The retail prices are:
 
Bindweed vase £146.00
Bamboo leaves vase £136.00
Butterfly vase £117.00
White Carnation vase £163.00
 
Web: http://www.royalcopenhagen.com
Tel:   (0800) 963 763

Lalique has launched a new collection of glassware for Summer 2007, Bucolique, which embodies all the graceful accents found in nature.

Inspired by the Garden of Eden, the whimsical charm of the floral collection of crystal pieces delicately portrays natural purity and gracefulness.
 
Bucolique includes a collection of dazzling vases, bowls, perfume bottles, tumblers and candles in both clear and green; the two breathtaking new colours - Anise and Meadow Green are a refreshing step into the new season.

Details and prices are as follows:

The featured large, medium and small sized vases in meadow green and anise - £1390, £390 and £149
Clear medium sized vase - £390

Meadow Green small sized bowl - £115
Clear medium sized bowl - £390
Meadow Green large sized bowl - £649

Anise perfume bottle - £149
Clear high perfume bottle - £349
Clear tumbler - £45
Candle - £30
Clear box - £349

Lalique crystal continues to be produced by its expert master glassmakers at their French factory.

Visit the website to view the dazzling new Bocolique collection:

Web: http://www.lalique.com  

Tel: (0207) 245 9090

Spring has arrived and ILVA the new Danish home furnishing store has launched its spring / summer 2007 collection, with a huge range of stunning, quality furniture.

With the lighter, brighter days here at last, it’s time to consider refreshing our home’s interior, not just the wardrobe!

Updating the theme and style of your home has never been easier with ILVA’s affordable prices – for example:

Inject some spring and summer shades into your living room with new furniture such as the featured:

Sento - sofa in microfibre with crocodile embossed design, L235cm, £695.
Avanti - lacquered coffee table with high gloss finish on castors (white or black) £198.
Spot - Hand tufted New Zealand wool rug (various sizes e.g. 140cm x 200cm £170).
Sanne - Floor standing vase in brown, charcoal, or grey ceramic - H120cm £89 or H135cm £98.

For the bedroom, ILVA has developed a romantic theme, inspired by light and elegant 18th century French Gustavian style. The ‘antiqued’ Romance bed will add charm and character to your boudoir (£390).

ILVA furniture pays particular attention to its craft with the ornate Brescia dining table in antiqued white; an absolute picture of opulence and ideally suited for high-summer entertaining (£396)

Visit the website to view the exciting Easy Living catalogue, full of new ideas:

Web:  http://ilva.co.uk
Tel:  (0845 245 8285)

Rosendahl is launching three new vases in their popular Filigran range designed by Lin Utzon, which are unlike anything she has ever created before.

Her hallmark has always been flowers and garlands intertwined in discreet or milky-white sand-blasted patterns.
 
However, these new hand-blown Filigran vases, have nothing “filigree” about them, as they have no pattern whatsoever and portray only simplicity itself, with elegant form and colour.

Lin Utzon’s latest artistry in glassware is in the darkest, deepest black, the most elegant imaginable ivory and the most exquisite shade of white; three classic illustrations of the assertion that “you’ll never believe how beautiful colours can be until you have seen them with your own eyes”.

The base of each vase is transparent glass and the effect is awe-inspiring; it’s as if Lin Utzon has given her creations the freedom to float in the air, despite their intrinsic weight.

The vases are 16 cm high and will be available from April 2007.
Retail price is £26.95 each.
 
Web:  http://www.rosendahl.com
Tel:    (01252) 377900

Carrol Boyes the South African artist and designer, has created a unique functional art form by combining her inspirational gifts with the beauty of pewter.

Carrol’s growing portfolio of metalwork sculptures consists of innovative and distinctive items, which fulfill a practical use as well as being eye-catching talking pieces and would fit comfortably into even the grandest of homes.

The Quattro Bowl set of four crafted in aluminium featured here, is a fine example of her creative skills. Priced at £205.

Carrol’s portfolio consists of cleverly handcrafted combinations of pewter, aluminium and stainless steel cutlery, stylish bowls, vases, leather ware, tableware and clocks, any of which would make ideal and unusual gifts.

Carrol explains the root of her passion: “Pewter is a forgotten, old-fashioned metal. It’s great fun to work with and when it’s polished looks like silver.”

Carrol has expanded her repertoire with the addition of items in aluminium and stainless steel, each bringing its own special qualities.
 
Stainless steel is used for pieces that require being hard-wearing and dishwasher-proof, while large bowls and vases are fashioned in aluminium for its qualities of lightness and strength.

Visit the website for more:

Web:  http://www.carrolboyes.com
Tel:   516-829-1629

The French crystal house Lalique has commissioned world-famous designer, Javier Mariscal to design an exclusive range of special crystal pieces to celebrate the world famous 32nd ‘America’s Cup’ boat race, which has returned to Europe for the first time in over 150 years.

It is the first time Europe has been granted permission to hold the event off mainland Europe in the Cup’s 152-year history, after Switzerland’s stunning triumphant win in 2003.

Valencia, Spain was declared as the host city for the 32nd ‘America’s Cup’ due to its reliable weather patterns and tourism infrastructure.

The four crystal pieces include a spectacular vase, sculpture, tumbler and fish-shaped paperweight that reflect the speed of sailing boats, foaming waves and light on the Mediterranean Sea.

web: http://www.lalique.com
tel: (0207) 245 9090

These new glass vases from Rosendahl show the elegant talent of their designer Lin Utzon.

The vases (and matching votives) are hand-blown, and the different patches of colour that adorn the vases are placed on individually, making each one a unique glass sculpture in its own right.

Lin has chosen 5 colours and colour combinations for the Confetti vases, including lime green, blue, white and orange.

Each vase is 16cm tall and is hand-blown in clear glass - it comprises three coalescing glass rings that fan out from a 6cm wide base to an opening of more than 14cm.

The price of the Confetti vase is £36.95, and the votive is £16.95.

web: http://www.rosendahl.com
tel: (0113) 201 8888

When you’re thinking of buying a new vase it’s usually a choice between china and glass. For something a bit more unusual, you might choose metal or even wood - but rubber certainly isn’t the first material to spring to mind.

Nevertheless, it’s rubber that design company Menu have chosen for their new range of vases - and it’s a choice that works surprisingly well.

A rubber vase in red, black or brown can look like a traditional ceramic vase - or you can choose lime green (pictured) or pink, leaving no doubt that this is a funky stylish vase, made from a unique material.

There are practical benefits too - a rubber vase is a great choice if there are boisterous pets or young children around. And the design of the Menu rubber vase means you can fold the edge up for a bouquet - or down for a posy of flowers.

The Menu rubber vase will be available in the shops from March 2006 and retails for £14.95.

web: http://www.menu.as
tel: +45 48 40 61 00

It’s been some time since Ulrica Hydman-Vallien designed the classic white “Caramba” vase, with its bold painting of black snakes and fish.

Now, she’s come up with a new twist on her classic design, with these blue, orange and lime green versions. These fresh new colours complement the shape and decoration of the Caramba vase perfectly, so they’re ideal for the modern home.

Ulrica Hydman-Vallien has received design commissions to embellish everything from Ericsson mobile phones to British Airways tailfins. A trendsetter in glass design in her native Sweden and abroad, Ulrica said:

“Images are my idiom. I want my glass to live for ever, close to the hand, close to emotion, close to the heart“.

Caramba Vases from Kosta Boda retail at £195 each.

web: http://www.kostaboda.com
tel: (01252) 377 900