World of Wonders: How Czech glass Christmas ornaments conquered the world

Petr Nový, chief curator of the museum and one of the creators of the Christmas ornaments exhibition, visited Radio Prague’s studio in the run up to Christmas and shared the story of how the museum managed to assemble such an impressive collection of ornaments.

“We were simply very lucky, because one big Czech company ended production in 2008, and gifted to us the entire original sample room, that is more than 15,000 pieces. So we started from zero and overnight we had the biggest public collection in the world. Now we have more than 18,000 pieces. And I think it is very important that we made the collection accessible to the public. The exhibition was designed by Jakub Berdych-Karpelis from Kubus Design Studio, and I and my colleague created the scenario.”

18,000 pieces is an awful lot. How is the exhibition structured?

“The 18,000 ornaments make up the whole collection. The exhibition as such showcases more than 3,300 items, which is enough, I think. And the structure is based on the fact that the most important market for our glass Christmas ornaments from the beginning was the United States of America. So we created the exhibition to show the journey of Czech or Czechoslovakian glass Christmas ornaments to the US. We have Manhattan, we have a big ship and we have waves full of glass balls. I think it’s very imaginative and it’s simply something which you need to see.”

How is it that we’re such a superpower in the production of Christmas ornaments?

“It’s not easy, but in these days, the Czech Republic is still a big player, which is unbelievable because we have strong competition from plastics and also from the glass production in China. In Europe, our biggest competitor is Poland and then definitely Germany.”

But how did it started out. Is it because we’re so good with glass?

“It started in Czechoslovakia between the world wars. It started like the side product of the world economic crisis. In 1931, the production of these glass ornaments was simply transferred from Germany. The knowledge was transferred with the support of state money. So it was something like industrial espionage. At the time there were around 2,000 people unemployed in the Giant Mountains. And they simply secured for them the possibility for a happy life.”

By giving them jobs in glass production?

“Yes, yes. The first glassmaker of Christmas ornaments was a certain Mr. Ondra, a glassmaker from Valašské Meziříčí who created them in 1921. In 1931, with state support, glassmakers created an association specializing in glass Christmas ornaments in Zdobín. Today there is an association of artisans in Dvor Králové nad Labem, but the first one still exists.”

To what countries have we exported glass decorations over the years?

“We started with exports in 1934. And in the following years interest grew. When the Nazis came to power in Germany it wasn’t possible to sell Nazi production to the US. So they started to do business with Czechoslovakia. Then other buyers followed – we started exporting to Switzerland, Sweden, France. These days we export mostly to Western Europe, Northern Europe and to the US.”

And do the commissions differ? Do they make special ornaments for different countries?

“That’s a difficult question, but yes, they are different, definitely. Maybe I can say that the fashion dictate, the trends come mostly from US, still. So we have commissions for Hollywood stars, movies, etc. The space program was also an inspiration, so is Nature, and vintage ornaments. It started in 80s, the demand for vintage ornaments – the kind that grandma had. So it’s a very good thing if you have a long tradition in Christmas ornament making, because then you have an archive. And the designs from the 20s, 30s, 40s, are very popular on the market. It started in 80s, and it’s still going strong. And then lots of special commissions. You can buy lipstick or Wiener Schnitzel, beer in a glass.”

So we can paint anything they ask for on a Christmas ornament on a glass ball?

“Yes, yes – we meet demand.  And also there are new collections for the new interiors. For instance like the glass Christmas ornaments for Bauhaus interiors. It’s simply white with very decent gold or black lines. We also do modern style decorations. We have young designers, who always try to make something new, like Adela Bačová, František Jungvirt.”

What are some of the new things that they introduce?

“They make small, exclusive designer collections, which are a little bit more expensive than the normal production. But it’s simply like a gem for the Christmas tree, it is something different.”

Do you happen to know what colours and objects are trendy this year?

“Colours. The fashionable colours are the trick of businessmen. Actually the colour trends in glass Christmas ornaments started with Jacqueline Kennedy in 60s. And they change all the time. I think this year, it is a peach colour or some such shade. Definitely white. And also “earth colours” like brown, beige, grey, those are now in.”

So your exhibition actually documents the changing fashions over the years?

“We try to do that. We do not have a chronological line in our exhibition. It’s mostly thematic . So we have sections like – what you can find in the sea or in the sky, or fairy tales, and “ gems”, because we also have imitations of Faberge eggs and so on. We have a section of our oldest glass Christmas ornaments from the beginning of the 20th century. And of course you can see every possible colour and colour shade which was invented. We have more than 3,300 items in our exhibition and only two pieces are the same – intentionally.”

Which is the most precious piece that you have on show or the most unusual?

“I cannot say which single piece is the most precious, because it is the whole collection as such. No one has it –this wonderful sample room. But maybe, I would single out some special pieces which were designed by Milan Vobruba, the Czech designer and glass artist who emigrated after 1968 to Sweden. He created his own mark here. The nickname for him was the Czech Viking. And this man at the end of the 1950s designed some glass Christmas ornaments. And we offered to create them on the basis of those designs. It was, I think in 2007 or 2008. So we have some really original things. And one of them, we call it “captain” is simply the captain of our exhibition. So it’s in a special display and it’s rotated. It’s like in a spaceship.”

Do you have a special collection, a very interesting or unusual collection -that you were asked to create for some country?

“We have many designs which came to Czech Republic, also from England. England is also an interesting market. We have some pieces designed for Harrods, also some for Saks. And we also have some for McDonald’s. So yes, we have something which is special. Special and saucy and spicy also.”

And finally, what are your own favorite pieces? Do you buy different Christmas ornaments every year, given that you work with them all the time and see them around you? Or do you have a family collection, a traditional one that you simply keep and bring out every year?

“I have a family collection, but my family collection is now in the museum (laughs). I gifted them to the museum. So the pieces I had from my grandmother are now in the museum on display. And yes, definitely I’m buying more for every Christmas season. I buy Christmas ornaments for my friends.”