Czech your glass!
A major, previously largely ignored 20th century glass collecting area is revealed.
From the 1950s-70s, Czechoslovakia was a hotbed of modern glass design. Skilled and experienced designers produced hundreds of colourful and vibrant designs which were exported to the West in their thousands. Sold as art glass for the home and available on the high street, the designers behind them were rarely named - despite the fact that many are recognised today as masters of 20th century glass design.
Unique art glass masterpieces pushed the boundaries of modern glass design and acted as inspiration for these visually stunning ranges - most of which ended up in the homes of ordinary people around the world. Today, these vases and bowls typically lie un-attributed and forgotten.
In July and August 2008, a new and unique exhibition will reveal the names and fascinating story behind these exceptional and quintessentially modern designs. With over 400 objects selected from the Graham Cooley Collection, ‘Hi Sklo Lo Sklo – From Masterpiece to Mass Produced’ considers the themes behind the innovative masterworks at the high end of the market, but focuses on how these were translated into designs for the mass market.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a 148 page full colour catalogue by antiques and collectables author Mark Hill, and will contain an illustrated introduction and over 200 specially commissioned photographs.
This is the first time that this area has been properly addressed in its own right. Previously, many of these glass artworks have been incorrectly attributed to Italian glassmakers on Murano due to a lack of information. The exhibition and catalogue will be of immense interest to 20th century design and decorative arts enthusiasts, but will also appeal to anyone who owns a piece of vintage glass. It may just be a Czechoslovakian treasure!
The 'Hi Sklo Lo Sklo' catalogue will be published on 13th July 2008 and will be available from then via this website or from the exhibition.
Size: 243mm x 170mm, portrait, softback
Extent: 148 pages, with over 200 specially commissioned full colour photographs
Price: Ł20 + postage & packing
For further information contact:
Mark Hill on +44 (0) 7798 915474 or Dr. Graham Cooley on +44 (0) 7968 722269
email: books@markhillpublishing.com
The exhibition runs from 13th July – 9th August at the
King’s Lynn Arts Centre, King’s Lynn, Norfolk.
Tel: (01553) 779095.
www.kingslynnarts.co.uk
Click here for a link to a google map showing the location.
Opening times for the exhibition are as follows:
During the King's Lynn Festival:
Sunday 13 July – Saturday 26 July
Monday to Saturday: 10am – 5.30pm
Sunday 20 July: 2pm – 6pm
Post Festival:
Tuesday 29 July – Saturday 9 August
Tuesday to Saturday: 10am – 5pm
Closed Sundays & Mondays
Designers included in the catalogue or exhibition:
Emanuel Beranek
Jan Beranek
Jiri Brabec
Jan Cerny
Milos Filip
Jan Gabrhel
Vaclav Hanus
Jiri Harcuba
Pavel Hlava
Stanislav Honzik
Josef Hospodka
Vladimir Jelinek
Rudolf Jurnikl
Miloslav Klinger
Frantisek Koudelka
Jan Kotik
Jaroslav Lebeda
Oldrich Lipsky
Hana Machovska
Adolf Matura
Milan Metelak
Ladislav Oliva
Pavel Panek
Frantisek Peceny
Josef Pravec
Josef Rozinek
Jiri Ryba
Rudolf Schrotter
Jiri Suhajek
Josef Svarc
Jaroslav Svoboda
Miloslava Svobodova
Jindrich Tockstein
Vladislav Urban
Frantisek Vizner
Karel Wunsch
Frantisek Zemek
Vladimir Zahour
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