Czech Art Glass

The interest in post-war Czech glass continues to grow apace, having been prompted by the Velvet Revolution and deconstruction of the Iron Curtain in the latter years of the 20th century. After decades of visually striking items being produced for export across the world, most simply under the generic banner of ‘Bohemia Glass’, the drawing back of the veil of secrecy covering the identities and stories of the artists who designed these incredible pieces has prompted international interest. Although no longer at the ‘tip of the iceberg’, there is still so much more to be revealed – the star is still ascending.

Of course, established collectors who had already fostered an interest in 18th and 19th century ‘Bohemian’ glass were well aware of the high quality of pieces originating from the region, and their acquisitiveness sustained a buoyant market for these properly antique pieces made by the likes of Harrach, Loetz, Moser, and Kralik - even without the increased exposure to and influx of new buyers.

Perhaps surprisingly, during the closed period prior to emancipation, Czech glass artists were more at liberty to express themselves than most other painters and sculptors. How could the Communist ideal be expressed via a glass vase? The controlling regime desired two things, which it found in the centuries old glass industry it had acquired – a way of showcasing the progressive ‘modernity’ of design under Communism on an international stage, and a way of bringing in valuable foreign currency through sales of glass to the West. Hence these designers and artists developed, and were encouraged to develop, what is a now readily-identifiable yet varied ‘look and feel’ based on combinations of form, shape and colour combined with innovative uses for the optical properties of the material itself. And so, the works of Hlava, Beranek, Hospodka, Vizner and their compatriots for companies like Chribska, Novy Bor, Exbor, Sklo Union, Skrdlovice and others have now coalesced into a collectable genre which is every bit as recognisable as the pieces that their illustrious forbears are known for.


It is not, of course, the case that every bit of amber and green or abstract cut glass you encounter is going to be Czech or Bohemian, but it's possible to use such colourways and hallmarks of design as a first step on the road to making an identification, when combined with the presence of familiar geometric shapes, surface textures, the use of other distinctive features. Whilst midcentury modern Scandinavian and Murano glass were strong inspirations (nothing develops in isolation), Czech glass artists and designers combined winning styles and added their own twist, which would become instantly recognisable.

In spite of the undeniably high values assigned to the unique art pieces at the top end of the market that were produced for numerous international exhibitions and are now largely in museums, there is no need to be intimidated by these. There are many striking, eminently collectable pieces inspired by them and produced in larger or smaller quantities which can currently be procured for very reasonable prices. Prices are rising as supply declines. For the most part, this segment of the market is populated by Sklo Union pieces – the result of a mid-1960’s move towards collective production by a number of formerly independent manufactories. These items were essentially mass-produced (although the production runs were sometimes still relatively small) using the ‘pressed glass’ method, and were designed to react against the traditional, bespoke, cut glass pieces which had first stimulated the market – the aim was to provide sculptural, modern art glass for the home at an affordable price.

Parallel to this collectivism when it came to physical production, there is also a deliciously residual relic from the ‘Communist’ ethic which underscored the Czech regime after WWII. This is the concept that collective effort was more important than individual recognition, and this is exemplified by the fact that very few of these period pieces bear identifying marks for either the separate factories or the designers themselves. Most were simply sold labelled ‘Bohemia Glass’, the brand used by the export monopoly Sklo Export, with no or little reference to the designer or artist being made outside of industry marketing publications. This adds a layer of intrigue to the pursuit of ‘collectable’ Czech glass, and requires any buyer to develop the ability to recognise and verify the hallmarks of design of each artist in the absence of signatures or trademarks. Of course, this task can be entrusted with absolute confidence to a third party if you choose to buy from my own shop, or those of my colleagues at the Pantiles Arcade.

We will be more than happy to guide you through the rapidly developing, varied and exciting world of postwar Czech glass, and will have you able to tell your Svarc from your Gabrhel and your Jurnikl from your Zemek in very short order. I have many examples from these and other leading exponents of the art at my newly-opened retail outlet in Tunbridge Wells, and look forward very much to sharing my passion for the artistic endeavours of master craftsmen, who until recently laboured under an enforced cloak of anonymity. 


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Czech ZBS Vase Designed by Vaclav Horacek 1957

Czech ZBS Vase Designed by Vaclav Horacek 1957

A very fine Czech ZBS glass vase designed by Vaclav Horacek in 1957. For more Czech art glass please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£155.00

Rare Czech Skrdlovice Freeform Dish Designed by Rudolf Beranek in 1964

Rare Czech Skrdlovice Freeform Dish Designed by Rudolf Beranek in 1964

A very fine and rare Czech Skrdlovice freeform dish designed by Rudolf Beranek. For more Czech art glass please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£465.00

Czech Skrdlovice Whirlpool Vase Designed Frantisek Vízner 1974

Czech Skrdlovice Whirlpool Vase Designed Frantisek Vízner 1974

A very fine Czech Skrdlovice 'Whirlpool' vase designed in 1974 by Frantisek Vízner. For more Czech art glass please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£390.00

Czech Skrdlovice Blue Cylinder Vase Designed by Jaroslav Svoboda 1975

Czech Skrdlovice Blue Cylinder Vase Designed by Jaroslav Svoboda 1975

A very fine Czech Skrdlovice blue cylinder vase designed in 1975 by Jaroslav Svoboda. For more antique glassware, including a wide range of Czech art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£480.00

Czech Art Nouveau Style Vase c1960

Czech Art Nouveau Style Vase c1960

A very fine Czech Art Nouveau style vase from c1960 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Art Nouveau vases, please visit Scottish Antqiues online store.

£140.00

Scarce Czech Art Deco Electric Blue Vase c1940

Scarce Czech Art Deco Electric Blue Vase c1940

A very fine and scarce Art Deco Czech vase from c1940 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Art Deco vases, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£135.00

Julius Mülhaus Decorated Jugendstil Goblet c1910

Julius Mülhaus Decorated Jugendstil Goblet c1910

A very fine Julius Mülhaus decorarted jugendstil goblet from c1910 in excellent condition. For more antique glassware, including a wide range of antique wine glasses, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£235.00

Czech Harrach Evening Blue Vase by Milan Metelak 1961

Czech Harrach Evening Blue Vase by Milan Metelak 1961

A very fine Czech Harrach 'Evening Blue' vase designed by Milan Metelak in 1961. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£180.00

Kralik Fish Scales Vase c1910

Kralik Fish Scales Vase c1910

A very fine Kralik fish scales vase from c1910 in excellent condition. For more Jugendstil art glass please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£425.00

Pavel Hlava Head Sculpture 1994

Pavel Hlava Head Sculpture 1994

A very fine and rare Pavel Hlava head sculpture from 1994 in exemplary condition. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£3,200.00

Chlum Tapering Cylindrical Garnet Vase Designed by Jan Gabrhel or Pavel Hlava

Chlum Tapering Cylindrical Garnet Vase Designed by Jan Gabrhel or Pavel Hlava

A very fine Chlum garnet vase designed by either Pavel Hlava or Jan Gabrhel in the 1970s. For more Czech art glass, as well a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£350.00

Rare Czech Harmony Bowl Designed by Frantisek Zemek 1959

Rare Czech Harmony Bowl Designed by Frantisek Zemek 1959

A very fine and rare 'Harmony' bowl designed by Frantisek Zemek in 1959 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£260.00

Thorn Vase Adolf Matura c1965

Thorn Vase Adolf Matura c1965

A very fine thorn vase by Adolf Matura designed in 1965. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£1,250.00

Chlum Blown Colourless Glass Sculpture Designed Pavel Hlava c1980

Chlum Blown Colourless Glass Sculpture Designed Pavel Hlava c1980

A very fine Pavel Hlava designed colourless glass sculpture from c1980 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£1,150.00

Exbor Cased and Cut Vase Designed by Pavel Hlava 1964

Exbor Cased and Cut Vase Designed by Pavel Hlava 1964

A very fine Exbor cased and cut glass vase designed by Pavel Hlava in 1964 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£325.00

Czech Mstisov Rhapsody Vase Designed by Frantisek Zemek in 1956

Czech Mstisov Rhapsody Vase Designed by Frantisek Zemek in 1956

A very fine Czech Mstisov Rhapsody vase designed by Frantisek Zemek in 1956 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£180.00

Czech Chlum Heat Sensitive Vase Designed Pavel Hlava c1980

Czech Chlum Heat Sensitive Vase Designed Pavel Hlava c1980

Czech Chlum heat sensitive vase designed by Pavel Hlava c1980 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass, including a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£390.00

Czech Prachen Flower Vase Designed by Josef Hospodka 1969

Czech Prachen Flower Vase Designed by Josef Hospodka 1969

A very fine Czech Parchen flower vase designed by Josef Hospodka in 1969 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£390.00

Chlum Garnet Glass Vase Designed Pavel Hlava c1973

Chlum Garnet Glass Vase Designed Pavel Hlava c1973

A very fine chlum garnet glass vase designed by Pavel Hlava in the early 70s. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£1,550.00

Moser Large Ball Vase Designed By Jiri Suhajek 1973

Moser Large Ball Vase Designed By Jiri Suhajek 1973

A very fine large Moser ball vase designed by Jiri Suhajek in 1973 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass, including a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£280.00

Czech Mstisov or Moser Romana Vase Designed Hana Machovska 1961

Czech Mstisov or Moser Romana Vase Designed Hana Machovska 1961

A very fine Czech vase designed by Hana Machovska in 1961. For more Czech art glass, including a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£225.00

Large Moser Ball Vase Designed by Jiri Suhajek 1973

Large Moser Ball Vase Designed by Jiri Suhajek 1973

A very fine large Moser ball vase designed by Jiri Suhajek in 1973 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£280.00

Rare Moser Cased Ovoid Vase Designed Jiri Suhajek 1976

Rare Moser Cased Ovoid Vase Designed Jiri Suhajek 1976

A very rare Moser cased ovoid vase designed by Jiri Suhajek in 1976 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass, as well a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£675.00

Scarce Moser Ovoid Green and Amber Sommerso Vase Central Join Designed Vladimir Mika 1967

Scarce Moser Ovoid Green and Amber Sommerso Vase Central Join Designed Vladimir Mika 1967

A very fine and scarce moser green and amber sommerso vase designed by Vladimir Mika in 1967 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£550.00

Rare Moser Cased Ovoid Vase Designed Jiri Suhajek 1976

Rare Moser Cased Ovoid Vase Designed Jiri Suhajek 1976

A very fine Moser cased ovoid vase designed by Jiri Suhajek in 1976 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£650.00

Very Rare Early Novy Bor Vase By Pavel Hlava 1979

Very Rare Early Novy Bor Vase By Pavel Hlava 1979

Very Rare Early Novy Bor Vase By Pavel Hlava 1979

£790.00

Czech Harrach Harrtil Bowl Designed by Milan Metelak and Milos Pulpitel in 1955

Czech Harrach Harrtil Bowl Designed by Milan Metelak and Milos Pulpitel in 1955

A very fine Harrach 'Harrtil' bowl designed by Milan Metelak and Milos Pulpitel in 1955 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£110.00

Czech Podebrady Cut and Cased Crystal Vase Designed Josef Svarc c1968

Czech Podebrady Cut and Cased Crystal Vase Designed Josef Svarc c1968

A very fine Czech Podebrady cut and cased crystal vase designed by Josef Svarc c1968 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£520.00

Czech Chlum Garnet Vase Designed by Pavel Hlava 1960

Czech Chlum Garnet Vase Designed by Pavel Hlava 1960

A stunning Czech Chlum Garnet vase designed by Pavel Hlava in 1960 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£1,750.00

Signed Pavel Hlava Chlum Garnet Glass Bottle Vase c1975

Signed Pavel Hlava Chlum Garnet Glass Bottle Vase c1975

Signed Pavel Hlava Chlum Garnet Glass Bottle Vase c1975

£2,250.00

Rare Skrdlovice Yellow and Blue Cased Bowl Designed by Karel Wunsch 1973

Rare Skrdlovice Yellow and Blue Cased Bowl Designed by Karel Wunsch 1973

A very fine and rare Skrdlovice yellow and blue cased bowl designed by Karel Wunsch in 1973. For more Czech art glass, including a wide range of Skrdlovice glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£675.00

Ladislav Oliva for Exbor Amoeba Vase 1970s

Ladislav Oliva for Exbor Amoeba Vase 1970s

A very fine Ladislav Oliva designed vase from the 1970s. For more Czech art glass please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£325.00

1970s Exbor Yellow Grid Vase Designs by Ladislav Oliva

1970s Exbor Yellow Grid Vase Designs by Ladislav Oliva

A very fine Exbor grid design vase, designed c1968 by Ladislav Oliva. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£480.00

1970s Exbor Flashed, Cut and Polished Vase Designed by Ladislav Oliva

1970s Exbor Flashed, Cut and Polished Vase Designed by Ladislav Oliva

A 1970s Exbor flashed, cut, and polished vase designed by Ladislav Oliva. For more Czech art glass, as well as a range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£490.00

Late 1940s Czech Skrdlovice 'Antique Glass' Vase Pattern 454

Late 1940s Czech Skrdlovice 'Antique Glass' Vase Pattern 454

A very fine Czech vase designed by Emanuel Beranek in 1945. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£130.00

Czech Skrdlovice 'Antique Glass' Vase Designed  Emanuel Beranek 1945

Czech Skrdlovice 'Antique Glass' Vase Designed Emanuel Beranek 1945

A very fine Czech vase designed in 1945 by Emanuel Beranek. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£320.00

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