Heart of Glass
Mazel Tov Glass creates a keepsake work of art out of a fun Jewish wedding tradition
Three years ago, when glassblowers and longtime friends Andrea Osnow and Susan Schulman found themselves with several weddings to attend, they didn’t buy gifts off the registry. Both had been taking classes for 10 years with Brooklyn’s Urban Glass, the largest artist-access glass center in the United States. Following the Jewish tradition, they crafted a cup for the couple to break on the altar after the ceremony.
But after the glass was shattered, they didn’t want to simply discard the shards. “Susan suggested we combine the pieces with clear glass and make a bowl,” says Osnow. “When the technique was successful we knew we had an original idea, and Mazel Tov Glass was born.”
They switched from making various usable objects for themselves and loved ones, to turning the ceremoniously broken glass into an heirloom. Customers can choose from one of seven colors or create their own custom shade. About three quarters of Mazel Tov’s orders are for the glass and the heirloom, which comes in four different shapes.
“It is not uncommon for us to receive shards a year after the wedding,” says Osnow. “For those customers who choose to just buy a glass, they always have the option to return their shards to us to make a keepsake piece.”
Though stepping on the glass is a Jewish tradition, it isn’t a religious ritual. So whether you’re a Jewish couple, an inter-faith couple or just like the tradition, an heirloom from Mazel Tov Glass is sure to be a joyous way to break in your marriage.
