Connoisseurs and scholars throughout the world regard Czech glass as a phenomenon of extraordinary importance that has had an impact on many fields of social science and technology. From an art-historical perspective, the development of Bohemian glassmaking from the late 17th century onwards illustrates and documents the outstanding ability of the Czech art scene to readily respond to the latest stylistic changes and stimuli.
In existence for three centuries, the Harrach glassworks in Neuwelt in the Krkonoše Mountains has been acknowledged as one of the most prominent glass enterprises to have made a significant contribution to the international acclaim of Czech glass. Throughout every stage of Bohemia’s glass production, from the early 18th century to the end of the 20th century, the Harrach glassworks played a progressive and quite often even a determining role in terms of both style and technology.
The book is a comprehensive, thoroughly researched art-historical survey of the versatile glass output of the Harrach works as viewed throughout its existence: from its Baroque beginnings, the great many artistic facets of the Biedermeier and Revival styles, followed by the highly original Art Nouveau idiom and the Decorativism movement, the innovative approaches to glass design after 1950, all the way to contemporary glass.