Alexandra von Furstenberg (AVF) loves her Lucite. Her limited-edition furniture takes full advantage of the revolutionary plastic (and all its connotations): it’s “a nod to the 1970s when acrylic was widely regarded as the material of the future.” At 3 rings, we formerly wrote about her neon tables, little candi-colored cubes and triangles that might have been miniaturized and strung together on an antique necklace.

Blacksmith Desk. Designed by Alexandra von Furstenberg.

Even Alexandra von Furstenberg likened those pieces to jewelry: “the use of crystal clear materials and brilliant colors creates illumination to the tables that generate a reflection as if they were gems.” The von Furstenberg pieces that featured bright colors against clear Lucite garnered lots of attention in design magazines, not in part because everyone loves to relive their childhoods (when Lucite was uber-cool). But Alexandra von Furstenberg also works in a more subtle palette.

Part of her Voltage Collection, the Blacksmith Desk, available in black or clear, is simple, elegant, and glamorous. The base’s shape is a capital A—a lovely sans serif A that retains a hint of the past (resembles Optima, if you’re into fonts). A pair of these bases in lucite anchors a smooth tabletop, also of Lucite. With generous proportions–38” w x 84” l x 29” h—the AVF Blacksmith Desk gives you room to spread out. There are only 50 each of this edition, bringing the grand total to 100 (half black, half clear). My preference is for the Blacksmith Desk in black, the more robust color, which is in line with my industrial fascination as it recalls factory cogs and wheels. But in clear, the Blacksmith Desk is also a beautiful choice—a bit more transparent in its transparency, if you catch my drift. The clear opens up the room, so it’s good for open spaces (or small ones, if that’s your lot in life). Either option takes Lucite to a new level that’s more fashionable and less bulky than the first furniture pieces made of the material. Alexandra von Furstenberg knows how to showcase the brilliance of the plastic without sacrificing elegance. Her furniture maintains clean, crisp lines while still paying homage to that 1970s glamour.