Topic: Show and tell - Riedel Joe Colombo Smoke glasses - social history!

[jakgene]

I recently bought this pair of wine glasses - once I had seen them and researched a bit about Joe Colombo I was fascinated by the social history of them. Designed so that you can smoke and drink at the same time with one hand. (what was the other one doing I wonder!) 
See this link  http://www.designboom.com/history/joecolombo_smoke.html .  What a commentary on the lifestyle of the early 1960's. Wouldn't be surprised to see these turn up on Mad Men .

Not a good advert for his lifestyle, sadly Joe Colombo died at 41 from a heart attack.

They are 15 cm or 6 inches tall, and 7 cm or 2.5 inches diameter across the bowl so would hold a good sized glass of wine.
The "Joe Colombo" and "CJ Riedel" marks  are moulded into the foot on opposite sides.

Thought they were interesting and just wanted to share 
JAK
West Oz.

[rocco]

They are phantastic -- and quite hard to find; the top is so thinly blown that they break easily -- I have made that experience.

I own 7 champagne glasses from this range (there were 9 once ) >> Link

I love Joe Colombo's designs, he was surely one of the most influential designers of the 1960s. I have two of his plastic lamps for Kartell as well, and several of those multifunctional storage containers (BOBY).
There is a good book available, which features almost all of his designs: "Joe Colombo: Inventing the Future"

Michael

[johnphilip]

The dirty raincoat fags and funny eye always put me off  but he always solved the cases . ;)or was it a cigar ?

[Paul S.]

Perhaps that joke doesn't work in Oz.........bet if I'd said that the blackboard rubber would come out.    From memory I think it was a glass eye.

BUT.........these are quirky and interesting  -  very desirable - congratulations JAK.

[jakgene]

Thanks all - and yes - I got the joke jp - I didn't leave the Uk until 1975.  (and it was a cigar)
And I will be sure to be careful with the rims rocco - would hate to break one.

I was amazed when I looked into his designs how many of them I recognised - without having ever heard of him before. Would love a Boba!

The glasses are so well balanced they fit beautifully in the hand.

Jackie

[johnphilip]

BTW Jackie i am green with envy i have always liked those .