Dark and moody interiors serve up a delicious sense of mystery. Drawing from Gothic narratives, whether Bram Stoker’s Dracula or Netflix’s Wednesday, spooky décor does feel rather glamorous. While you may or may not have a haunted manor or abandoned castle to adorn, ahead of Halloween, we've put together a selection of six small accessories that show the darker side of design.
The ‘Julia’ round tumbler by Italian designer Giberto features hand-blown Murano glass. What gives it an edge is its dark ruby rim, characterised by a drop of hot glass that was applied with an ancient rigà-menà technique to create a teardrop effect – or, in this case, what resembles a drop of blood.
Artěl was founded in 1998 by American designer Karen Feldman. Its collection ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ is inspired by the tradition of European aristocrats collecting and displaying natural artefacts. Here, the tumbler boasts a skull placed on hand-engraved crystal, an eye-catching piece to adorn a glassware cabinet.
If you prefer to wear your sinister accessories, then Hotlips’ ‘Snake’ ring is the answer. The glossy black ring, in hand-painted in enamel and 100 per cent recycled sterling silver, features a glow-in-the-dark serpent. Check out the website to see a vampy alternative in a deep cherry red, with petite and pointy Dracula teeth.
Not only endearingly ghostly in appearance but portable too – perfect for lighting your way in the gloom of a Gothic passage – Venini’s ‘Fantasmino’ lamp closely resembles the form of the company’s ‘Fazzoletto’ vase from 1948. The block colour of the glass is achieved via a process that dates back to the 15th century, whereby opacifying substances are added to glass during kneading. The LED lamp is a whimsical ode to Venini’s archives.
Another addition to Artěl's ‘Cabinet of Curiousities’ is a bat tumbler. The lifelike design is realised through traditional production methods that date back to a 20th-century collective of Czech artisans. The smoky grey tumbler is hand-engraved, making each piece one of a kind.