The Expertise Behind Mantelpiece: How We Craft Timeless, Functional Decor

I’m Elisabeth Chambry, the founder of Mantelpiece.

I started this brand to reimagine everyday rituals through the lens of design, drawing from vintage aesthetics to create pieces that feel timeless, intentional, and made to live in plain sight.

Our first piece, The Vase, brings that vision to life. It’s both a flower vase and a water pipe. Sculptural, subtle, and designed to belong anywhere, even when not in use.

Mantelpiece is growing, but the mission remains the same: to design elevated essentials that fit naturally into the life you're curating.

About Me

I live in New York City with my rescue chihuahua, though I grew up in a rural area. I feel just as at home on a quiet lake as I do at the beach. Both are favorite ways to unwind.

I’ve always been drawn to design and creativity, and I find I’m most inspired when high. Whether I’m making something, watching a film, cooking, or simply adding intention to the everyday, that shift in perspective tends to open things up.

It might sound like a stoner cliché, but it’s my truth and part of what shaped the vision behind Mantelpiece.

My Path to Creating Mantelpiece

Before founding Mantelpiece, I built a career in marketing and partnerships at Wirecutter, Business Insider, and InsideHook. Immersed in product testing and service journalism, I developed a sharp eye for things that quietly stand out. Objects that balance beauty, function, and presence.

When I set out to design something of my own, I knew it had to meet the standards my peers would apply. People who care deeply about how something looks, works, and fits into their lives.

My Relationship with Cannabis

I didn’t start using cannabis until my twenties, but it quickly became an important part of my life. As someone who identifies as neurodivergent, I found it helped me focus, quiet mental noise, and unlock creativity. Over time, it became a tool for expanding thought and finding calm.

The idea for Mantelpiece first came during one of those open, reflective moments. I realized that while I had spent years around thoughtfully designed products, I’d never found a smoking accessory that felt at home in my space.

That’s when everything clicked. Beauty and function shouldn’t be at odds. The objects tied to our rituals deserve just as much intention as everything else we choose to live with.

The Design Process

Creating The Vase was a slow, curious process grounded in getting it right. It started as a piece of paper wrapped around a bong. A rough idea that evolved over three years of refining proportions, testing materials, and revising forms.

Three rounds of prototyping later, The Vase came into focus. Elegant, functional, and made to belong.

Today, it’s patent-pending and produced with purpose. Built to endure, both in use and design.

What Mantelpiece Stands For

At Mantelpiece, we believe smoking accessories deserve to be seen. The Vase reimagines what a bong can be: a sculptural object designed to complement your space, not clash with it. Its two-part form pairs fresh florals above with a fully functional piece below.

We aim to help destigmatize cannabis by approaching it through the lens of design. When smoking accessories are made to be beautiful, they take up space differently. They signal intention, not secrecy. Elegance, not shame.

Our mission is to elevate the ritual through thoughtful, sustainable design. Every product is created with care, blending utility, timeless style, and environmental responsibility.

As part of that mission, we donate a portion of profits to the Last Prisoner Project. We recognize that the ability to enjoy cannabis without consequence is still a privilege, and we're committed to supporting the fight for restorative justice in this space.

Mantelpiece’s Commitment to Quality and Sustainability

We use high-quality materials chosen for longevity and aesthetics. Our glass is produced in Shenzhen, China, at a factory that upholds ethical labor and safety standards. We work through a U.S.-based sourcing partner who maintains direct contact with the facility and has verified these standards on site.

From day one, we’ve designed everything, including our packaging, to be recyclable. We avoid non-renewable hydrocarbons and continually seek ways to reduce our footprint. As we grow, we’re committed to using more recycled materials and minimizing waste wherever possible.

We believe that creating great products should never come at the cost of people or the planet.

Be Part of the Mantelpiece Story

Mantelpiece is redefining smoking accessories for the modern home. We are working to destigmatize ritual through design.

The Vase is just the beginning. When you bring a Mantelpiece object into your home, you're joining a movement to make space for beauty, function, and intention in everyday life.

Thank you, truly.