Have you ever looked closely at a mussel shell?

Designer and Bomma Creative Directior Václav Mlynář certainly has. And he found what eager eyes will see: the shells of this seemingly mundane creature are beautiful, filled with singular striations and prone to reflect light in iridescent rays.

The mere mussel is the somewhat unlikely inspiration for Mlynář’s Mussels collection, pendant lighting featuring crystal shells cupping a small light source, and an elegant, unobtrusive mounting finished in glossy anthracite or brushed gold.

Mussels makes for an intriguing interplay of glass and light. The parted shell, the variable patterns, and the subtle tinting draw the eye to the faceted texture: “With its rippling patterned imprints, the fixture creates the effect of light reflecting from a water surface.”

Mussels is available in clear, alabaster, dark pearl, and smoke. Pendants come in clusters of six, 12, or 18. It’s also available in a chandelier style with up to 26 pieces.

“With their simple, yet sophisticated, shape, each mussel is unique and original, but together they form interesting compositions… they carry a sense of elegance and organic nature, as well as a bit of mystery.”

Read more at Bomma. And visit 3rings to discover other interesting iterations of glass and light.