We barely need say that Duralex tumblers are made in France, so closely are they associated with café au lait, beret-wearing school children, baguettes, and vin de table.
Duralex emerged during World War II and developed molded tempered glass in its factory near Orléans. Fired using extreme heat followed by a rapid cooling system, this glass is virtually unbreakable, which has made it indispensable to this day in cafes, school lunchrooms, and kitchens in France and around the world.
Five to Buy
Above: The Picardie tumbler is named after the city of Picardie (also known as Picardy), famous for its Gothic cathedrals. The arch-shaped edges also take inspiration from 18th-century French crystal, and provide a good grip for finger and thumb. A set of six Petite Picardie Glasses, 5.4 oz each, is $20 at Quitokeeto.
Above: Ideal for baking, mixing, and storing, Lys Nesting Bowls have a lipped ridge at the top for easy unstacking. A nine-piece set of the bowls, varying in diameter from 2.5 inches to 9 inches, is $38 at Provisions.
Above: Duralex tempered glassware is strong enough to hold hot coffee and also works well for wine. A set of six Small Gigogne Tumblers, 3.25 oz each, is $21.50 at Elsie Green. Other sizes also available.
Above: The minimalist Chopes Unie Glass holds 220 milliliters and is $7 NZ each at Father Rabbit in Auckland, New Zealand.
Above: The complete range of Duralex glassware is available at Duralex USA.
For more of our affordable favorites, see our 10 Easy Pieces posts Basic Drinking Glasses and Everyday Wine Glasses. And on Gardenista, have a look at The Ultimate Indoor/Outdoor Tableware.
Object Lessons columnist Megan Wilson is the owner of Ancient Industries and curator of the Remodelista 100 presented in the Remodelista book. Watch for her column every Tuesday, and have a look at her past lessons on the Eames Lounge, Butterfly Chair, and Nautical Hammock. We recently featured her new shop in our post Purveyor of the Practical and the Timeless.
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