From beakers and flasks to jars and bottles to cylinders that store substances and compounds, vintage laboratory glass comes in many shapes and sizes and was originally used for scientific and educational research. Far superior to everyday glassware, these extremely resilient vessels are made from several types of glass, each with different capabilities. Borosilicate, for example, is immune to “thermal shock”, a hugely innovative quality that revolutionized laboratory glass when Corning invented it in 1915. Lab glass was produced on a much smaller scale than mainstream glassware, and today these pieces are highly collectible. It’s a favorite of decorators who use it to accent minimalist as well as industrial-style interiors. And author, interior stylist, and frequent Bloomist collaborator, Hilary Robertson, often incorporates lab glass in her still lifes as seen in the images above and below on her heavy stone table.