Zwiesel Glas Waters

The height mainly decides which bouquet will fit. The small one at 220 mm keeps short stems upright: think ranunculus, anemones or a handful of wild flowers. The large one at 277 mm has enough depth for peonies, sunflowers and leafy branches. If you cannot decide, take one of each size, because two different heights side by side look better than two identical ones.

With colour there is a simple rule: the darker the glass, the less you see of the stems. Snow and coral let the water show through, while green and the smoke shade turn it into a silhouette. On a laid table several shades from this series mix well, because the shape stays the same.

Fill the vase to about two thirds, so the wavy wall stays visible above the water line. Cut the stems at an angle and keep the bouquet no more than one and a half times the height of the vase itself, otherwise the whole thing becomes top-heavy. Change the water every other day.

Outside the flower season they work just as well with bare branches, with dried flowers or simply empty in a row down the table, where the light through the colours does the work.

Waters is blown soda-lime glass rather than crystal, which makes the vase fairly forgiving in everyday use. It is dishwasher safe, although washing by hand is wiser as soon as a limescale ring appears at the bottom: lukewarm water with a dash of vinegar dissolves it without any scrubbing.

Never fill a cold vase with hot water. That difference in temperature is where thin glass gives up, not a knock or a fall.

Looking for something to drink from in the same palette? Have a look at the coloured glasses or at the vintage glasses with their ribbed walls. For water and wine on the table, the carafes and the wine glasses are ready and waiting. To dress the table further, you will find the tealight holders under bar lighting, and under cocktails and bar tools everything you need to actually pour something alongside.