In praise of ice cubes

In an era of ever-escalating temperatures, there's a lesson to be had in contemplating the lowly ice cube. An easy-to-overlook companion in our summer drinks, it's a reminder of how essential it is to keep our cool – individually and globally.

It's also an understated paragon of micro-decorating. Among the various interiors of your home, one of the smallest is the inside of an ordinary glass. Plunk a few ice cubes in and you have an impromptu sculpture that slowly dwindles into formlessness as you observe it.

And unlike other forms of micro-decorating, you can taste it – let its frosty tide wash over your tongue – and even hear it – that gentle clatter as the cubes swirl and rearrange themselves in your beverage.

My appreciation of ice cubes reached a new peak when I discovered the ideal tray last summer. It's made of silicon, allowing you to pop the cubes out easily – and best of all, their six sides are each perfectly square. Once you've enjoyed ice cubes with the intuitive rightness of dice, it's hard to settle for the sadly lopsided versions of the past.

You don't need to be sipping something to make your core temperature drop. I find that even placing an ice-like object nearby can have an immediate cooling effect. This ashtray that I picked up at Bungalow gives me a satisfying shiver whenever it's within eyeshot:

If you venture out to find some glacier-like objects of your own, I recommend looking for Nordic art glass, a regular find in well-stocked vintage shops. The iconic glass objects of Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala, for example, have the bewitching pull of ice sculptures that never melt. As of this writing, one of his remarkable bowls – almost a foot wide – is available at Zig Zag:

Whether you pursue freezer-fresh objects of the impermanent or permanent variety, you'll find instant relief in the steamy days to come.

Affectionately,