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 Mstisov or Moser Duha Range Bell Vase Designed 1964

Czech Mstisov or Moser Duha Range Bell Vase Designed 1964

A very fine Czech Mstisov or Moser Duha range bell vase designed in 1964 by Vladimir Mika in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass, including a wide range of mid-century modern vases, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£345.00

Tall Czech Mstisov or Moser Romana Vase Designed by Hana Machovska 1961

Tall Czech Mstisov or Moser Romana Vase Designed by Hana Machovska 1961

A very fine Czech Mstisov or Moser Romana vase designed by Hana Machovksa in 1961. For more Czech art glass, including a wide range of mid-century modern vases, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£225.00

Czech Mstisov or Moser Romana Vase Designed by Hana Machovska 1961

Czech Mstisov or Moser Romana Vase Designed by Hana Machovska 1961

A very fine Czech Mstisov or Moser Romana vase designed in 1961 by Hana machovksa. For more Czech art glass, including a wide range of mid-century modern vases, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£140.00

Czech Mstisov or Moser Duha Range Ovoid Vase Designed 1964

Czech Mstisov or Moser Duha Range Ovoid Vase Designed 1964

A very fine Czech Mstisov or Moser 'Duha' range ovoid vase designed by Vladimir Mika in 1964. For more Czech art glass, including a wide range of mid-century modern vases, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£320.00

Very Rare Moser Rosalin Sculpture Designed by Oldrich Lipa c1960

Very Rare Moser Rosalin Sculpture Designed by Oldrich Lipa c1960

Moser Rosalin Sculpture Designed by Oldrich Lipa c1960

£850.00

Czech Mstisov or Moser Duha Range Ovoid Vase Designed 1964

Czech Mstisov or Moser Duha Range Ovoid Vase Designed 1964

A very fine Czech mstisov or Moser vase designed by Vladimir Miika in 1964. For more Czech art glass, including a wide range of mid-century modern vases, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£275.00

Mark HIll - Beranek & Skrdlovice: Legends of Czech Glass

Mark HIll - Beranek & Skrdlovice: Legends of Czech Glass

Beranek & Skrdlovice: Legends of Czech Glass - edited by Mark HIll and authored by Robert Bevan Jones & Jindrich Parik.

£45.00

Czech ZBS Citrine Glass Vase Designed by Vaclav Horacek in 1957

Czech ZBS Citrine Glass Vase Designed by Vaclav Horacek in 1957

A very fine Czech ZBS 'Citrine' glass vase designed by Vaclav Horacek. For more Czech art glass please visit Scottish Antiques onilne store.

£110.00

Scarce Harrach Amber Mica Frit Glass Vase By Milan Metelak 1968

Scarce Harrach Amber Mica Frit Glass Vase By Milan Metelak 1968

Scarce Harrach Amber Mica Frit Vase By Milan Metelak 1968

£325.00

Moser Vase with Enamel Inclusions and Bubbles Designed by Pavel Hlava c1965

Moser Vase with Enamel Inclusions and Bubbles Designed by Pavel Hlava c1965

A very fine Moser vase with enamel inclusions and bubbles designed by Pavel Hlava. For more Czech art glass, including a wide range of mid-century modern vases, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£625.00

Rare Chlum u Trebone Garnet & Gold Vase Designed Jan Gabrhel 1964

Rare Chlum u Trebone Garnet & Gold Vase Designed Jan Gabrhel 1964

A very fine and rare Chlum u Trebone glass vase designed in 1964 by Jan Gabrhel. For more Czech art glass please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£135.00

Jan Gabrhel for Chlum u Trebone Vase c1965

Jan Gabrhel for Chlum u Trebone Vase c1965

A very fine heat sensitive optically ribbed and striped vase from c1965 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass, including a wide rane of mid-century modern vases, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£140.00

Harrach Harrtil Range Vase Designed by Milan Metelak and Milos Pulpitel 1955

Harrach Harrtil Range Vase Designed by Milan Metelak and Milos Pulpitel 1955

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

£180.00

Czech VUUS Novy Bor Desk Sculpture or Paperweight Designed by Eva Svestkova 1971

Czech VUUS Novy Bor Desk Sculpture or Paperweight Designed by Eva Svestkova 1971

A very fine desk sculpture or paperweight designed by Eva Svestkova in 1971. For more Czech art glass please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£95.00

Rare Novy Bor Colourless and Amber Cased Monolith Vase Designed Pavel Hlava 1958

Rare Novy Bor Colourless and Amber Cased Monolith Vase Designed Pavel Hlava 1958

A very fine and rare Pavel Hlava for Novy Bor 'Monolith' vase. For more Czech art glass, including a wide range of Skrdlovice vases, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£650.00

Large Metallic Gourd Vase by Pavel Hlava c1970

Large Metallic Gourd Vase by Pavel Hlava c1970

A stunning and rare gourd vase by Pavel Hlava in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£2,500.00

Moser Biomorphic Beryl Bowl by Vera Liskova c1950

Moser Biomorphic Beryl Bowl by Vera Liskova c1950

A very fine Moser biomoprhic Beryl bowl by Vera Liskova from c1950 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glasss, including a wide range of Moser glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£725.00

Pavel Hlava for Exbor Galaxy Vase c1964

Pavel Hlava for Exbor Galaxy Vase c1964

A very fine Pavel Hlava for Exbor Galaxy vase from c1964 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass, including a wide range of Pavel Hlava vases, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£450.00

A Mstisov or Moser ‘Riviera’ or ‘Opera’ Vase Designed by Karel Zemek in 1963

A Mstisov or Moser ‘Riviera’ or ‘Opera’ Vase Designed by Karel Zemek in 1963

A Mstisov or Moser ‘Riviera’ or ‘Opera’ Vase Designed by Karel Zemek in 1963

£175.00

Czech Prachen Blue Applied Vase with Yellow Prunts Designed Josef Hospodka 1969

Czech Prachen Blue Applied Vase with Yellow Prunts Designed Josef Hospodka 1969

A very fine Czech Prachen blue applied vase with yellow prunts designed by Josef Hospodka in 1969. For more Czech art glass please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£325.00

Rare Tall Rose Vase Probably Josef Hospodka for Chribska c1965

Rare Tall Rose Vase Probably Josef Hospodka for Chribska c1965

A very fine and rare tall pink vase probably designed by Josef Hospodka for Chribska from c1965 in excellent condition. For more vintage vases, including a wide range of Czech art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£275.00

Czech Skrdlovoice Glass Vase Pattern 6346 by Jan Juda 1963

Czech Skrdlovoice Glass Vase Pattern 6346 by Jan Juda 1963

Czech Skrdlovoice Pattern 6346 by Jan Juda 1963

£265.00

Czech Skrdlovice Olympia Range Vase Designed by Vladimir Jelinek 1964

Czech Skrdlovice Olympia Range Vase Designed by Vladimir Jelinek 1964

A very fine Czech Skrdlovice 'Olympia' Range vase designed by Vladimir Jelinek in 1964. For more Czech art glass please visit Scottish Antiques' online store.

£490.00

Unique Czech Amber Acid Etched Cameo Midcentury Modern Vase c1955

Unique Czech Amber Acid Etched Cameo Midcentury Modern Vase c1955

A fine and unique Czech amber acid etched cameo glass vase from c1955 in excellent condition. For more Czech art glass please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£550.00

Rare Czech Skrdlovice Olympia Range Bowl Designed by Vladimir Jelinek 1964

Rare Czech Skrdlovice Olympia Range Bowl Designed by Vladimir Jelinek 1964

A very fine and rare Vladimir Jelinek glass bowl. For more Czech art glass please visit Scottish Antiques' online store.

£390.00

Czech Skrdlovice Green Cylinder Vase Designed by Jaroslav Svoboda 1975

Czech Skrdlovice Green Cylinder Vase Designed by Jaroslav Svoboda 1975

A very fine Czech skrdlovice green cylinder vase designed by Jaroslav Svoboda in 1975. For more Czech art glass, as well as a wide range of Bohemian art glass, please visit Scottish Antiques online store.

£380.00

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

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