Maison Balzac

French wit, Australian colour, glasses you will want on show. Maison Balzac's jewel-toned coupes, carafes and glass objects sit alongside candles named with a knowing smile. The pieces that make a tablescape feel personal rather than perfect, and a present that is almost impossible to get wrong.

Maison Balzac makes coloured glassware such as coupes, tumblers and carafes, along with scented candles and home fragrance. The look is playful and colourful with a French-inspired wit, which sets it apart from more minimal Scandinavian or classic crystal glassware.

Much of the everyday coloured glassware is dishwasher-safe on a gentle cycle, but hand-blown and hand-finished pieces last longer hand-washed to protect the colour and surface. Because the pieces are often decorative as well as functional, hand-washing is the safer default.

Maison Balzac is an Australian brand based in Sydney, founded with a strong French influence that shows in the names, colours and humour of the collections. The combination of Australian design and French reference is a defining part of its identity.

They are popular gifts precisely because they feel joyful and a little unexpected: a jewel-toned coupe or a wittily named candle reads as considered without being safe or generic. Boxed candles and pairs of glasses are especially easy, well-received presents.