Loetz was one of the leading Bohemian art glass makers, working in the Art Nouveau era. The Loetz Art Glass company was founded by Johann Loetz in 1840 and became renowned for its bold colours, ground-breaking techniques and organic forms. Loetz art glass was at its peak between around 1890-1920, with its products being manufactured […]
Loetz Art Glass Continue Reading »
Before the industrial revolution centralised the production of goods in urban areas, the forests and towns of central Europe were peppered with small glassworks. The craft was, for many, a way of life. Whole families would spend their days shaping glass pieces from furnace to finish, with the finest details often being painted by the
Kosta Boda Glass: The Triumph Of The ‘Kingdom Of Crystal’ Continue Reading »
Scandinavia is a region defined by its natural splendour: From long aurora-lit winter nights to clear streams full of striving wild fish and forests resplendent with soaring pines, this northern landscape is nothing short of breathtaking. It’s therefore unsurprising that its natural hues and motifs often made their way into the best Swedish art glass,
Swedish Art Glass: The History Of Orrefors Glassworks & Graal Glass Continue Reading »
When reading about the great glass makers of yesteryear, one can be forgiven for developing the impression that the decorative glass industry has, as a whole, been in decline for some time. For every Steuben (which famously rose from the ashes of bankruptcy in 2015), there are many more Loetzes, Kraliks, and Sowerbys: Companies who
Studio Art Glass: Is The Future Cloudy Or Crystal Clear? Continue Reading »
Stained Glass Art Of Medieval Cathedrals The feeling that accompanies walking into a medieval cathedral is incomparable: As you enter the cavernous main chamber of the structure, the sound of your own breath and footfalls is suddenly magnified. There is a sense of ageless continuity, as if a river of time flows beneath the building,
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The Passionate Artist: How Emile Galle Glass Art Reshaped An Industry Collectors today have so many antique art glass styles to choose from that it’s easy to forget how contemporary the concept of ‘art glass’ really is. Yet a brief look through the types of glass popular with collectors today—such as vaseline glass, depression glass, and carnival glass—reveals
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An art glass perspective from our US writer John Watson… For most people, glass is a functional material used for windows, glassware, and little ornaments around the house. It is not a material that people consider to be a major part of the art world, unless, of course, you include stained glass windows in that
Creative Glass Continue Reading »
When you think of stunning architecture, you tend to think of the great buildings of the world, many of which are still standing in Europe and countries well outside the borders of the United States. This is perhaps because those buildings have been around for centuries, with some of them even being older than the
American Architecture: Their Iconic Buildings Continue Reading »
Arts and Crafts Movement (c.1860 to 1910) The Arts and Crafts movement formed in the second half of the 19th century and was made up of English designers and writers who wanted a return to well-made, handcrafted goods instead of mass-produced, poor-quality machine-made items. In the 1890s the popularity of the Arts and Crafts movement
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A Brief Guide To The History Of Furniture The role of furniture in our lives extends far beyond the purely practical. The shape and colour of our furniture, like other aspects of our indoor environments, influences our moods, perceptions, and ideas. Just as we design our living spaces, they in turn help to create us.
History of Furniture: From Upright Oak To Soft Satinwood Continue Reading »