THE ORIGIN OF GLASS (7000 YEARS AGO)

Around the year 5000 B.C., people in Egypt put a shimmery, glass-like glaze on clay containers and boxes. Small jewelry like beads and amulets were made from frit. Although we don´t know exactly when the first "pure" glass containers originated, but glass manufacturing in Egypt was so advanced, that around 1400 B.C: small containers were made according to the so-called sand core technology. A pre-made sand form was dipped into the melted sand, after which the mass was cooled and the sand core was carefully shaken away from the glass. Later the glassblowing pipe was the significant invention which revoltionized the glass art, making it possible to "blow" a glass object. After that and up until the 5th century A.D., the art of glass making spread throughout the Roman Empire where it was influenced by Roman culture and traditins.

FRANKISH EMPIRE GLASSES (5th - 8th century A.D.)

The Frankish glass art is considered to be the connecting link between the sophisticated Roman art of the Rhine area, and the ever developing monastery art. In the year 486 B.C. Merowinger Chlodwig, declared Frankish independence from the Roman Empire, managing to preserve the culture and traditions of the region. Unfortunately, the glass from this era did not have the quality of the Roman masters: it was not clear, it had bubbles inside and it was usually green- brown and later blue and yellow. When the supply of soda from the Mediterranean stopped the glass makers turned to plant ash as a material for the glass production. The decoration was humble consisting of threrads and drops of glass or different patterns depending on the form. One was limited to the few already known Roman forms like bell cups of diverse form: pointy cups, bell cups, bottles, drinking horns and tumblers (drinking dishes). The Frankish glass had its peak during the 5th to 8th centuries and it was spread over trade routes to England, Scandinavia, Poland and Bohemia. Pieces were found in graves, buried with the dead to be used in the afterlife. However, the ever expanding conversion to Christianity put an end to this pagan custom.

FOREST GLASS (since 13th century A.C.)

Around the 8th century, and even more so in the 9th, monasteries were found in the territory of France becoming cultural centers of art where many artists and craftsman offered their services to the church. Glass was in lower demanded than other objects of art. Pope Leo IV. (847 - 855) even forbade the use of glass goblets, for they were a remainder of the old pagan way and did not appear valuable enough next to gold and silver for religious purposes. The few archeological finds of simple bottle glass dating from the 12th and 13th century, however, show that the art of glass making survived - not only because of the apprentices of the master craftman, but also because of the detailed description in the writings of Plinius (24 to 79 A.C.) and Heraclius (10th century), and most of all in the work of Monk Thoephilius presbyter "Shedula diversarum atrium". In the beginning of the 13th century middle glass started to form and to trade. Glass became more and more appreciated inthe household and the "Forest Glass Huts", which were established around the 14th and 15th century, were struggling to cover the growing demand of window glass and bottle glass.The work in the huts was hard. In order to prevent the risk of fire, the glass makers were not allowed to work in the cities. The whole production was to settle in the forest, if possible next to rivers with good sand and clay, needed for the process of glass making. From Easter to St. Martins Day on the 11th of November, glass was made and the following winter the necessary wood for pot ash, was collected. In the 17th century even the "glass huts" were paying their toll during the Thirty Years´War with France. There is rarely any glass found from the 14th century and one can find impressions of them only in pictures of that time. Fortunately there are many finds of "Forest glass" of the 15th century. Their typical green color was determined from the differnt quality of the materials and the iron oxide admixtures. The colors varied from dark to light green, but also blue-green and brownish. The decoration was typical for the forest huts. It was made from glass threads and drops, which were blown into the form. Because of these additions the container became robust and had intensive coloring.The glass furnaces were heated by wood, not able to reach a high enough temperature for the complete melting of the mass. The finished glass product contained bubbles, streaks and stones. Even so the craftsmen were able to create tender and beautiful pieces. Their style of work was influenced not only by Roman culture, spread around Western Europe, but also by Middle Eastern culture brought by the crusaders from the Orient. All this combined under the strict conditions of their own creative style and was sold at markets and fairs across Europe around the 14th century. The art of making the replicas of that particular time is not an easy task. It requires perfect control of the glass techniques and the ability to create the old forms and to adapt the technologies to the old forest hut conditions.

ART NOUVEAU GLASS (1895 - 1915)

In this period glass products were characterized in particular by typical floral motives, flowing lines and the use of precious metal in the glass. At that time, three centres of glass craftsmanship became world famous: France by Emil Galle and the Daum Brothers; the USA by Louis Confort Tiffany; Austria - Hungary (today´s Czech Republic) by the glass hut "Klostermuehle" (Monastery mill) belonging to the widow Loetz and the glass hut "Neue Welt" (New World). The Production of "Original Czech Silver Glass" refers to the master creations of that time. Approximately 150 different types of glass in three basic colors can be found in the assortment: green; blue; brown. The art was not only valued for its use of gold, silver and other precious metals, but because the decorative patterns and effects used were unique and never repeating. The glass hut "Klostermuehle" was found in 1836 by Jan Krititel Eisner, who belonged to the oldest glass craftsman tradition originating from the Bohemia forest. In the year 1852 Zusana Oestnerova, the widow of the glass entrepreneur Jan Loetz, acquired the glass hut "Klostermuehle" and made it into a prosperous company. Her grandson, Maximilian "Ritter" (the Knight) Spaun, took over the mill in 1879 and with the help of his manager Eduard Prochzka, it became a world famous manufacturer. The work was particularly focused on the development and perfection of the ornaments directly at the glass furnace. The hard work was acknowledged, and at the world Expo´s in Paris (1885), Chicago (1893) and Antwerp (1894), the production received excellent reviews. The glass hut "Klostermuehle" belonged to the high class manufacturers and even received special privileges from the emperor. It was clear to Spaun and Prochazka that it was necessary to obtain the perfect form and to do so they worked with extraordinary artists from Wien and the best glass makers of the world. Their effort was worthwhile and the biggest triumph was the achievement at the world exhibition in Paris where they were awarded the first prize. After this, products from "Klostermuehle" were equally as treasured and sought-after as products from Tiffany and Galle. "Klostermuehle" exported its glass all over the world and most importantly to the cradle of glass - Venice. In 1908 Spaun left the company in the hands of his son, unfortunately, without sucess. His manager, Prochazka, who introduced the technology of decoration work directly at the glass furnace, also died in 1908. At the time of the World Economic Crises between the years 1931 - 1935, the glass hut "Klostermuehle" was closed down. In the following years the manufacturing was concentrated only on drinking glasses. After manufacturing and company history, "Klostermuehle" was closed forever. The largest collection of "Klostermuehle" glass works is in the hands of the private museum of Mr. G. Hoetl in Passau, where it can be visited.