Glass Message Board
Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, Czech Republic, Austria => Topic started by: flying free on September 01, 2011, 07:33:24 PM
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please - I've found some info on Jindrich's site but only a little.
From my understanding they set up in 1993? and closed in 2008/2009?
I've found some named designers involved but just wondered a little more about the history of this company.
Many thanks for any info
m :sun:
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Hi M,
Couple of snippets of info in amongst the attached links, have to wade through some of the less relevant bits...
http://www.gsl.cz/en/company/gs_history.html
http://www.praguepost.com/archivescontent/19766-finding-a-clear-view-of-glass.html
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Thank you!!!! :sun:
I'll distill what I find and put something here I think...to be chewed over and ratified or not as the case may be.
I've struggled to find info and pictures of any glass produced there. I've found some limited pieces, but apart from Jindrich's catalogue not many. Mind you I've yet to go through the CGR's, so that may throw up some new pics.
m
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I spoke to them at length in 2000. As soon as the wall came down in 1993 Barovier set up a company to produce serial glass in the Czech republic. These are not unique pieces, but larger series under the BAG label as production i Italy had become too pricey. I have seen the full range there and then but i was not impressed. Some years aftr that I saw their products marketed in Italy - but never anywhere else.
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Thank you Ivo. I've read as many old threads on the board as possible and found some of the info and guessed reading between the lines, as much. So from what you've said were the designers involved, the Czech designers I have read about? Did they design the ranges and then BAG produced them in large numbers and Barovier marketed/sold them in Italy?
I've one piece hopefully on it's way and which I think is gorgeous. I had researched as above and guessing as much as you've commented, so I bought knowingly somewhat. I am interested in finding out more about it, but if I'm honest, I've looked at the other pieces and I can't see I'll be rushing to add to it as I couldn't see anything else that took my fancy. That said, I've not really managed to find that many images.
Thanks again.
m
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Hi flying free.
I had a look around and found that "Vsetin Hand Made Bohemia Art Glass Vase" will get you some hits on these vases.
In my opinion, There's an interesting vase at http://bohemiabloggen.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html
There's reference to the factory being wound down in 2003 according to the CV of their export manager Ing. MIROSLAVA JAKUBOVÁ:
"Po té působila rok ve vsetínské sklárně BAG (Barovier&Toso Czech Republic, s.r.o.) jako manažerka exportu. Po uzavření sklárny byla v letech 2003 - 8 zaměstnána ve firmě Glass Service, a.s., Vsetín jako koordinátorka marketingu."
There's also mention of "Barovier&Toso Czech Republic s.r.o." but the link from that site seems to lead nowhere now:
http://www.glass.cz/list/detail.asp?id=147&lang=en
regards
Kevin Gummer
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Thanks Kevin. I do quite like that piece and actually I had spotted a rather nice vase in amongst this picture, the rocket shaped one with the prunts on the join, which I do like a lot. https://picasaweb.google.com/Jindra8526/BAGVsetin?authkey=Gv1sRgCIHbu5DF4ruyTw#5467341584388993298
I think they fit in quite well aesthetically with the Alessi and Philippe Starck designs of that period as well :sun:
The piece I've bought (which will hopefully arrive safely and undamaged) is quite funky, so I was looking for the more outlandish pieces I think. It isn't in this set of pictures from Jindrich so I was searching to try and find other designs.
Links to whole catalogue on Jindrich's site (thank you Jindrich :) )here
https://picasaweb.google.com/Jindra8526/BAGVsetin?authkey=Gv1sRgCIHbu5DF4ruyTw#
m
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Thanks for the images and thanks to Jindra.
I agree with your thoughts about the look. I'm also reminded of Carlo Mollino.
I also found some images of Rony Plesl's work for BAG (just 5) @ http://ronyplesl.com/brand-design/hand-blown-glass/bag/#p5
regards
Kevin G
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This may be of interest to the thread completed listing ebay no 250878421408 finished aug 31 a couple of days ago .
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It's the one I bought JP :girlcheer: - I was going to post pics when it arrived (which I will, so they remain on here rather than disappearing) but in fact those pics are good for now.
m
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Thank my plumber if i hadnt got his bill i may have bid on it , nice piece . Enjoy :hiclp:
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Heya!
Just to clarify, the link to my blog shows a paperweight not a vase. Here's a link to the other items I have from BAG:
http://bohemiabloggen.blogspot.com/search/label/Glasbruk%3A%20BAG%20Vsetin
Best Regards
Emil
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Thanks Emil :sun: I like the paperweight - it's fun.
JP thankfully my plumber did not arrive until this morning otherwise I would not have bid on it either - not sure whether that is good or bad :-\
m
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Just to summarise before I lose the information entirely (can't now log in to the first link that Greg gave to GS and failed to print it off :grrr:)
- I believe it stated on that link that GS built the BAG site in 1990 and sold it in 1993 (please correct me if anyone else can log in)
- The next link from The Prague Post says that BAG was established in 1992 and states the following:
"In contrast to old glassworks that keep up traditional designs and production methods stands the newly built Bohemia Art Glass (BAG) glassworks near Vsetin. BAG was established in 1992 and contracted some very talented glass designers of the "new glassmakers" generation. Admirers of funky shapes, crazy colors and unusual details of glasses, fruit bowls, vases, candle holders and pitchers should not miss a tour to this cradle of untraditional beauty. Located close to the Slovak border in the Wallachian part of central Moravia, the BAG factory was built on a green meadow in the middle of nowhere, but lacks the typical sign of a glassworks a tall chimney."
- a link on the GMB from 29 April 2009 here http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,26140.msg144169.html#msg144169
says that BAG was started up by founders including Jiri Suhajek, in 1992 and in that link of 2009 states ‘…the company stopped trading some years ago…’.
The Great Glass site gives a list of designers for BAG here
http://www.great-glass.co.uk/glass%20notes/mana-b.htm
listed under Bohemia Art Glass (BAG)
At whatever date that information was put on the Great Glass site it goes onto say BAG are 'nowadays producing mainly for Barovier e Toso’.
Designers listed including
Jirí Šuhájek, Vladimír Jelínek, Vratislav Šotola, Rony Plesl, František Urban
I've seen a couple of bases from some of the pieces including the one I bought and I think they are handmarked with the word ' Design' and then the name of the designer for the piece (again open to correction but that is how it appears to me). I'm hoping mine is designed by Jiri Suhajek but I could be wrong.
m
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Hi m
The only other info. I have is:
In 1991 it was also undertook the construction of the B.A.G. glass factory that manufactured art glass.
That same year(1992), operation of the B.A.G. glass factory in Vsetin, Czech Republic started with 80 employees and a capacity of 2 - 3 tons of melted glass per day. The six full electric pot furnaces that were installed and developed by the Glass Service specialists showed to be very effective in energy consumption, glass quality and durability. This electric pot furnace new product is still in demand and successfully sold by the GS Engineering Group.
In 1995, GS sold the B.A.G glass factory to fully focus on its present day technological and research programs.
If you want a copy of the full document I can post it or send you an email.
Two other links about the registration of the trademark give more (CONFLICTING?) details about the dates of B.A.G.’s export beginnings and end (from 1993 - 1996)
These registration details are for US export requirements and show a history of the trademark.
http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=74411402
http://www.faqs.org/trademarks/bohemia-art-glass/
The other document I saw was about the Barovier&Toso Czech Republic s.r.o..
http://www.glass.cz/list/detail.asp?id=147&lang=en
It states the product range and gives opening hours, addresses, contact persons and a web address that leads to a ‘moving’ dead end. There they still have refernce to B.A.G. in the webadresses etc.
regards
Kevin G
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Hi m
I located a book. Probably rare.
Title Bohemia art glass, Vsetín
Author Bohemia Art Glass (Firm)
Publisher B.A.G. spol., 1992
Length 60 pages
Subjects Glass art
Glass artists
reference: http://books.google.com/books/about/Bohemia_art_glass_Vset%C3%ADn.html?id=D1DEPgAACAAJ
It seems there is a copy in the US at the Corning Glass Museum in The Juliette K. and Leonard S. Rakow Research Library (The Rakow Research Library)
Corning, NY 14830 United States
My apologies to all as well for Carlo Mollino rather than Carlo Moretti.
And another apology for the vase rather than a paperweight to Emil.
Emil has a fabulous web-site.
regargs Kev G
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Thanks Kev
In fact I loved the reference to Carlo Mollina - it seemed to me there was a similarity in the dichotomy of design, a 'large solid' base or body with 'spindly/delicate' attachments :)
I had a quick google for books and under a google link to Leslie Pina's 20th Century Factury Glass there was this snippet of information -
'Bohemia Art Qlass Bohemia Art Glass (BAG) is a major new Czech factory which was established at Vsetin in East Moravia in April 1992. Originally an offshoot of Glass Service. a specialist research and engineering firm. it received ...' - and there it peters out.
Does anyone own this book and is there any more info than this in the book maybe please?
So three sources seemingly state that BAG as an operation was started in 1992. The end date is less precise at the moment.
Edited to add - from the source The Legend of Bohemian Glass by Antonin Langhamer
In a small excerpt from google books I found the following stated: '.....In 1998 the glassworks was sold to the Italian firm Barovier & Toso'. Unfortunately, this date doesn't tie in with the information Ivo was given from talking to BAG in 2000.
It also states in that paragraph that the company was founded in 1992 by Glass Service but gives the additional information that this was along with the Deza Corporation which later became it's sole owner.
link to excerpts from that book here - it has amazing pictures! http://books.google.com/books?id=UwLCa_h3hTEC&pg=PA234&dq=ARt+Glass+Plesl+BAG+Bohemian+glass&hl=en&ei=aYBiTtLlJdSv8QObx-mmCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=ARt%20Glass%20Plesl%20BAG%20Bohemian%20glass&f=false
Kev, thanks for the kind offer to send the information, but actually I just thought I'd start a thread for BAG because the information seemed so scant and diverse when I was searching and since it is no longer in existance, information may become harder to find as time goes on.
m
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It's arrived :rah: and it's delicious. Beautifully made, impeccably done neat polished pontil mark under the label and I'm sure the signature reads 'Design J Suhajek' - one very happy person here :sun:
pics
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Hi m! Congratulations on the new Jirí Šuhájek jug!
regards
Kev G. :smg:
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I did business with B.A.G several years ago. We visited the factory a few time in Vsetin the last time was in 2001 at that time they were owned by Barovier &Toso. It was very interesting to watch the glass being mouth blown and formed. I have several pieces. Glasses, and a few vases, and bowls. Some designed by Rony Plesl, Petra Adamcova, Jaroslav Mynar, and B.A.G. most pieces are signed. We fell in love with their glass when we purchased it in Prague in early 2000.
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Hi and welcome to the board :sun:
I'm very interested to see other images if you are willing to share some of your collection :) How are your pieces signed on the bases? Are they all just the signature, or do some of them also say 'Design' then the signatures?
I can imagine that was a fascinating trip.
m
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All my pieces are signed "design" followed by the name of the designer, some have B.A.G. Czech Republic. I took several pictures of my glass today, I will try and post them tomorrow. I also have a brochure that gives some history of the company. Some of their bigger designers hand brochures that gave a little back ground about them. You can email me if you would like me to send them to you. The glass was designed by the artist then mouth blown and formed by the glass blowers at the factory. This was by no means a production line. Yes, they made hundred of most items. When we visited the factory if you would call it that, it was very small. Each piece was handmade and had it's own unique look. No two pieces where exactly the same. Watching them blow the glass gave you an understanding how much time and talent went into each piece. I have several pieces left. If there is anything you see that you like, you will have to let me know. Most of what we imported was wine, champagne, and sherry glasses. We have a few plates, vases, and bowls. It was very expensive to have it air freighted to the US, so most of the heavier items were pre sold.
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Thank you so much. If you could upload the pictures to the GMB rather than linking that would be fantastic. And thank you for your information. Your email sign is not open so I can't contact you, but if you would like to contact me via my email by clicking on the attached envelope icon on the left hand side of this message that would be great.
Many thanks
m
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Here are a few pictures of out glass from B.A.G. First two pictures "design" Jiri Suhajek. Last two "design" Rony Plesl.
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These are some of our other pieces. I emailed you their brochure. I hope you were able to open it. First two "design" Shafaq Ahmad. Last two "design" Rony Plesl
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These are some of the pictures we took while visiting B.A.G. in Vsetin in 2001. Notice some of the tools they used, they looked very primitive just like the art of blowing glass. It was extremely hot on the production floor. It was an amazing to watch.
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Hi, yes I received the pictures and was able to open them. Thank you very much and also for the pictures you have posted here - it's great to add some images to the thread :sun:
The information in the brochure confirms that Barovier and Toso acquired the majority of BAG in 1998.
It also says that Jiri Suhajek was the first 'creative personality' at BAG and his glassware 'Lighthouse' won the National Designer Prize in 1994.
Many thanks again.
m
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My vase is pictured on one of the pages Robert kindly sent over and the name of the range is 'Eden'. Thank you to Robert for finding this topic and providing such detailed information. It is much appreciated.
I wonder if this topic could be moved to the Czech board when the mods have time please :sun: Many thanks.
m
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Keep it up.
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Welcome to the board :sun:
m
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Hi,
Are you still looking for information on or product made by Bohemia Art Glass S.r.o of Vsetin?
Products were marketed and sold by Bohemia Art Glass Ltd of the UK. When the company was sold a quantity of stock was put in to storage and is now available for sale.
If you'd like to find out more let me know.
Many thanks.
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Hello, thank you for raising this thread again.
How do I contact you? I'm not sure if the email contact function is working on this board now. If you do list your email here please replace @ with (at) and . with (dot) so it can't be picked up by spammers.
Many thanks again.
m
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Please drop me an email at bohemiaartglass(at)gmail(dot)com
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These are some of our other pieces. I emailed you their brochure. I hope you were able to open it. First two "design" Shafaq Ahmad. Last two "design" Rony Plesl
Does anyone happen to know the name of the line that the last vase shown is from, by Rony Plesl? I'd really appreciate knowing its' name - found two of these yesterday!
Thanks!
Kat
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Lovely video on Rony Plesl glass here from
Muzeum Regionu Valassko
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ9mkWPncq4&t=55s
m