A rare late 1970s Czech Moser ovoid glass vase, designed by Jiri Suhajek

Description

Jirí Suhajek is one of the Czech Republic’s most important and progressive living glass designers. Gaining experience at the very heart of the genesis of the studio glass movement in Britain under Sam Herman (1936-2020), he is also one of the very few Czech glass artists who crosses both design and making.

Combined with the high quality of glass produced at Moser, Suhajek was able to create a number of landmark designs, including this vase, which was designed in 1976 and in production for a few years. All were a new departure for Moser, in terms of their style and the way the designer worked closely with the glassmakers throughout the production process.

Suhajek was inspired by nature, and abstract, modern art in this design, and so has followed a tradition that began in Czechoslovakia in the 1950s. Murano glass of the 1950s-60s, such as the sommerso designs of Flavio Poli, can also be seen to be an influence in terms of the vibrant colours, casing, and curved form. The stylised flower is made up from melted glass chips and applied trails, which are used in an almost painterly manner. The thick colourless body was then dipped twice in green glass to give the distinctive ‘wings’, optical effect in the uncased ‘V’, and the weight.

This unmarked example is in excellent condition, with a number of bubbles, or ‘seeds’ within the glass which were not unintended, as they drive home the unique, nature of production. The green and red colourway is also uncommon.

8in (20cm) high.

Condition
Excellent, original vintage condition with no cracks or chips. The base has scratches consistent with over 40 years of use and display. A couple of air bubbles are present within the flower design, and one just outside it, as to be expected from such a production technique. That's how it was made!

Literature

This vase is illustrated on p.85 of Sklo: Czech Glass Design from the 1950s-70s, by Mark Hill, published by Mark Hill Publishing Ltd in 2017.

Jiri Suhajek, by Eva Neimannovà, published by the UPM, 2022, p.28.

Similar vases from Suhajek's range are also included in Moser 1857-1997, by Jan Mergl, published by Moser in 1997 and Moser Crystal Story - 160 Years, published by Moser in 2017.

Hi Sklo Lo Sklo: Postwar Czech Glass Design From Masterpiece to Mass-Produced, by Mark Hill, published in 2008, p.58.

Shipping
Postage and packing is free within the UK. If you live outside the UK, please contact me to obtain a shipping quote. I pack and ship at cost, and do not make any money from this service. Items are sent via Royal Mail signed and tracked services, but I am happy to use another service at your request.