Texas, cowboys, and cacti: Douglas Friedman brings a dose of the wild west to new Lobmeyr glassware collection
Photographer Douglas Friedman has united with Austrian glassmaker Lobmeyr on a collection inspired by rural Texan tropes
Esteemed photographer and Wallpaper* collaborator Douglas Friedman has an eye for a striking image, and his latest venture into the world of glassmaking shows similar flair. After teaming up with Viennese master glassmakers at Lobmeyr, Friedman has playfully drawn inspiration from America’s Wild West to present six tumblers and one carafe, with hand painted illustrations and motifs.
The collection, which is exclusively available at Abask, unites an unlikely pairing of centuries old craftsmanship with a Texan inspired contemporary and playful design- a tightrope of sophisticated elegance and quirky charm which Friedman and Lobmeyr balance carefully and beautifully.
The Douglas Friedman x Lobmeyr Collection
The photographer, who is based in Marfa, West Texas drew inspiration from his Friedman Ranch and tattoo art, telling Wallpaper*, ‘I always feel inspired when I’m there. It is the place where I relax and have fun. I am constantly inspired by the area, from the sweeping cloud formations that create the view outside my window to the iconic motifs and emblems of the area which we have adapted for this collection with a wink.’
The Friedman Ranch in Mafra, Texas
The illustrations hold a lot of dynamic movement from scorpions to horses, and a friendly-faced cowboy. Throughout the design process Leonid and Louise Rath of Lobmeyr helped Friedman to narrow down the selection. ‘I wouldn’t say there were challenges, it was quite the joyful collaboration from start to finish,’ said Friedman. ‘Once I was connected with Leonid Rath ( sixth-generation glassware master) and Louise Rath ( artist and illustrator) of Lobmeyr, I started mood-boarding motifs and they selected the ones that would translate best when hand-painted onto glass by their artisans. They have 200 years’ experience in this, so I felt very safe in their hands.’
With centuries of glassmaking under its belt it is no surprise that Lobmeyr has been a front runner in the world of glassware from hand-blown, cut, engraved and polished pieces since 1823. No stranger to collaborations, Lobmeyr worked with Thomas Edison to create the first electric chandelier in 1883.
Views from Friedman Ranch in Mafra, Texas
With the new collection launching in prime time for the entertaining season ahead, Friedman is ready to hunker down at his ranch and ready to play host for guests, saying ‘[You can use the collection] all the time and every day. I’ll be using mine for freshly squeezed orange juice in the morning, beside my bed for water at night, and for champagne and cocktails whenever I have guests over. They lend themselves very well to every occasion.'
Working within a new medium, Friedman said it was a ‘similarly creative process of collaboration, imagination, and the pursuit of a beautiful final product’, with the overall collection proving that for both Friedman and Lobmeyr , this isn’t their first Rodeo.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
The collection is exclusive to abask.com
Tianna Williams is Wallpaper*s staff writer. Before joining the team in 2023, she contributed to BBC Wales, SurfGirl Magazine, Parisian Vibe, The Rakish Gent, and Country Life, with work spanning from social media content creation to editorial. When she isn’t writing extensively across varying content pillars ranging from design, and architecture to travel, and art, she also helps put together the daily newsletter. She enjoys speaking to emerging artists, designers, and architects, writing about gorgeously designed houses and restaurants, and day-dreaming about her next travel destination.
-
In Shanghai, Hermès conjures a ‘cosmopolitan explorer’ for its one-off show on the Huangpu River
Nadège Vanhée, artistic director of Hermès’ womenswear collections, presented ‘The Second Chapter’ of her A/W 2025 collection earlier this evening (13 June 2025) against the futuristic skyline of Shanghai
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the week
It was a jam-packed week for the Wallpaper* staff, entailing furniture, tech and music launches and lots of good food – from afternoon tea to omakase
-
Peugeot brings back a classic performance badge for the electric era: meet the E-208 GTi
Peugeot has unveiled the new E-208 GTi, a performance EV designed to hark back to a golden age of compact sports cars