In December 2024, I’d recently started working with Gallery Fumi and I had made a three legged leather-clad desk and chair for their presentation at Design Miami. I was staying on South Beach, and next-door to my apartment there was this shop that I kept being drawn to. There were so many weird, tacky bongs in there. I was looking at the shelves and, peeping out right at the back, there was a trippy glass snail bong… it was a real work of art and it was just sitting collecting dust.
I kept going back and looking at it, thinking: ‘I really like this thing.’
The days went on, and I became friends with a guy who had bought quite a lot of work from the Fumi stand. We ended up on a big night out and at 2am I said: ‘I’ve got to take you to this shop. I think you’ll like the stuff in there, because I can see the kind of work you’re buying.’ I showed him the snail, and he said he was going to buy it. I was suddenly disappointed. Then he said: ‘Oh my God. You want it?’ and I realised I did! There was another one by the same artist, but a different version. He bought both of them for us as a treat.
When I got home, I did a bit of research, looked up the artist and found out it was worth a lot more than he’d paid. I keep it in my office, above my computer on a shelving unit that I made from scorched tree branches. I can see the snail’s face and these big goofy teeth looking back at me, and all the other little faces on it. It makes me smile.
This kind of glasswork is technically advanced, but it’s also just so fun – I guess that’s why I’m drawn to it. It’s skilfully made, cheery and decorative and is also a functional object (although I haven’t tried it out!). That’s the way I like to design. It reminds me to stay lighthearted, playful and curious, and it’s a reminder of a great trip. charlottekingsnorth.com
