Photographer Extoradinaire Douglas Friedman collaborates with 200-year old Viennese master glassmaker Lobmeyr on a limited edition collection of glassware featuring Western-inspired hand-painted illustrations and motifs
Clink, clink and Hee Haw! Avenue fave Douglas Friedman, who splits his time between houses in Marfa, Texas and Long Island has released a capsule collection (six tumblers and a carafe featuring Western-inspired illustrations and motifs) with Lobmeyr, available via e-tailer ABASK. We caught up with the jet-seeing sharpshooter to get the scoop.
The images on your Lobmeyr make us want to host a cocktail party in Texas with Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” on repeat.
I had such a fun time researching and putting together moodboards to inspire the motifs and emblems we ended up using in the collection. It was decided that Marfa, Texas was the inspiration from day one, and so I started looking into cowboy culture, pulling everything from Stetsons to boots to their lassos. Then I looked at the landscape so synonymous with West Texas which obviously includes snakes and sunsets, scorpions and, of course, cacti of which I had about 50 different options. I also looked at the industrial skyline of rigs, gas cylinders, and engineering equipment as well as sheriff badges, saloon signs, and smoking skulls. I shared all my research with the brilliant Leonid and Louise Rath at Lobmeyr and together we made our curated edit of illustrations based on what felt right in the mix and what was technically possible to achieve.
Louise Rath is so talented.
I was thrilled to work with Louise Rath, the designer at Lobmeyr and a member of the family, who translated my ideas into illustrations for the glasses. Her incredible team of world-renowned glass artisans then meticulously hand-painted all the crystal glasses in the collection.
Life in Texas is literally etched into the collection.
In terms of the illustrations, yes, but the collaboration is also inspired by the iconic design history of Lobmeyr that celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. It’s testament to their openness and willingness to collaborate over its illustrious history that has kept them as leaders in their field and one of the most prestigious artisanal brands in the world (did you know one of their early collaborations was with Thomas Edison on the first electric chandelier?). It has been an honor to bring our ideas and inspirations together and create this collection that we’re all so proud of.
Cheers! You must be excited to host a cocktail party at home in Marfa with your new collection.
Absolutely! And not just in Marfa but in my new home in Long Island when I have finished renovating it. They are perfect for a “Mexican in Paris” – a cocktail from my cookbook that is a glass of champagne with a shot of Casa Dragones tequila in it. It’s my favorite tipple from my cookbook, “Cooking in Marfa.”
3 reasons we should all buy a house in Marfa?
The clouds, the light, and the BBQ!
–PETER DAVIS
