Last Updated: Mar 29, 2019     Views: 134

After the war in 1918, the decay of Austria-Hungary and the origin of the Czechoslovak Republic left a diminished glass market in the country. About 60% of all utility glass items and nearly all luxury glass items had to be exported for sale, which was even more difficult to accomplish since many glass manufacturers had shut down during WWI. Despite great changes in glassmaking technology in the years after the first World War, the Czech glass market still suffered.  Specific reasons for this decline in the market were difficult to locate, as was any documentation regarding women taking men’s glassmaking jobs during the war. I suspect that did not happen, simply because so much glass manufacturing was suspended during the war.

While The Rakow Library strives to acquire everything published on the subject of glass, in every format and in every language, our materials don’t generally cover topics outside this subject specialty. However, I’ve identified some possible resources outside The Rakow Library for the next step in your search. 

Brown University has a Department of Slavic Studies, which provides resources relating to many aspects of Czech culture and studies. The University of Michigan offers a program in Czech & Slovak Studies. This links to a page featuring courses, events, internet resources, and faculty with contact information. They may be able to answer your questions by email, or recommend resources to you. The library at the University of Michigan might also aid your search. https://www.lib.umich.edu/. Try asking U. of Michigan librarians virtual reference questions or searching through their online catalog for relevant titles. A research guide was compiled by Janet Crayne, the subject specialist for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies at the University of Michigan. It may also be useful to try a search on Google Scholar for articles relevant to your research. Additionally, some local libraries offer online databases, which can provide free access to journals and periodicals for library users. 

I've located three bibliographies which may be helpful. One is about Czech glass factories and artists, the other specifically about artists. I have also attached a relevant bibliography relating to the history of Bohemian and Czech glass.

If you wish to borrow copies of library items, please contact your local library. The Rakow Research Library will lend designated books from its collection and will send copies of articles requested by other libraries. Your library can request items through the OCLC WorldShare Interlibrary Loan (ILL) system or by direct request through email at ill@cmog.org. For more information, please see our ILL website.

Ask a Glass Question

Ask a Glass Question

Please note: The Corning Museum of Glass is a non-profit, educational institute and, as such, cannot answer questions about rarity or value of your glass. For more information about appraisal services, see our curatorial FAQs.

Provide Your Contact Information
Fields marked with * are required.