©museum of decorative arts in prague, collection of...
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©Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Collection of Garnet Jewelry, c. 1875-1899, base metal and bohemian garnets, Photograph by Gabriel Urbánek
2©Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Karlštejn treasure – Garment Decorations and Clasps, c. 1375-1399, Photograph by Gabriel Urbánek
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Masterpieces from the Museum of Decorative Arts in
Prague presents the most remarkable objects from the
Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, many of which
are rarely seen outside of Europe. The exhibition
includes selections from its departments of glass,
ceramics and porcelain; prints and photography;
furniture and woodwork; metalwork and jewelry;
clocks and watches; and textiles, fashion, and
toys. Conceived as a history of the decorative arts,
the exhibition presents the broad spectrum and
importance of this Museum’s holdings collected
since its establishment in 1885. The unique history of
Prague, and the Czech Lands at large, allowed for a
variety of European influences on its material culture
which are reflected in the exemplary pieces included in
this presentation.
4©Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Covered Goblet, Workshop of Daniel and Ignác Preissler, c. 1720, colorless glass. Photograph by Gabriel Urbánek
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Showcasing the superb craftmanship of approximately
300 objects, Masterpieces presents the evolution of
arts and crafts, and the history of art collecting in the
Czech Lands and other countries of Europe in five
distinct eras: the Gothic, the Renaissance, the Baroque,
the 19th century and the 20th century. Historically, the
term “masterpiece” referred to a product made by an
apprentice to complete his training and to demonstrate
that he had learned the necessary practical skills.
Once an evaluating committee approved his product,
he was granted the title “Master” and permission to
independently practice his trade. Today we understand
the term to mean the apotheosis of a craft. This
exhibition will display these masterpieces in a range of
media providing an overview of European decorative
arts.
©Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Pedestaled Bowl- Josef and His Brothers in Egypt, Baldassare Manara, assigned, c. 1535, painted with high gloss paints. Photograph by Gabriel Urbánek
©Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Folding screen, Rudolph Schlattauer, c. 1910, wool, cotton, wood. Photograph by Gabriel Urbánek
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©Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Door Lock from Šitkovský watermill, c. 1700, iron and brass. Photograph by Gabriel Urbánek
©Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Pavel Janák, Prague Art Workshops, Chair, 1911–12, oak veneer. Photograph by Gabriel Urbánek
©Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Kettle, c. 1593, hard stoneware with salt glazing and relief décor. Photograph by Gabriel Urbánek
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The GothicDuring the mid 14th century, or the Late Gothic period,
when centralized monarchies were emerging in
Europe, Czech Lands witnessed the ascension of the
Luxembourg dynasty to the Bohemian throne and the
election of Charles IV as Holy Roman Emperor. The
reign of Charles IV (1346–1378) saw the consolidation
of the state, the flourishing of crafts, the founding
of Prague’s university, the construction of St. Vitus
Cathedral, the establishment of Prague’s New Town,
and other important achievements. The objects dating
from this period rank among the oldest items in the
Museum’s holdings. Works made of wood, glass and
base metals, and book bindings, along with selected
items from the “Karlštejn Treasure” – a set of medieval
clothing accessories – are displayed in this section.
The RenaissanceThe onset of the Renaissance period in the Czech
Lands coincided with the beginning of the reign of
Ferdinand I of the Habsburg dynasty, who ascended
the Bohemian throne in 1526, and with the capital’s
further development under the rule of Rudolf II, Holy
Roman Emperor, who transferred his imperial court
from Vienna to Prague (1583–1612). The second part
of the exhibition highlights the magnificent flourishing
of the arts and crafts, associated with the creation of
extensive aristocratic collections in the form of art and
curiosity cabinets. This period was one of the most
important in the history of the decorative arts and art
collecting in Central Europe as a whole. Among the
objects on display are superbly crafted works produced
at the Prague court of Emperor Rudolf II, including
mosaic pictures made of semiprecious stone (pietre
dure) in the workshop of Giovanni Castrucci, a master
of Florentine mosaic. No less outstanding, in terms of
quality and craftsmanship, are the examples of carved
and inlaid furniture, Venetian glass goblets, fragments
of 15th- and 16th-century fabrics, and copper
engravings reproducing earlier prints.
The BaroqueThe exhibition’s third section examines the decorative
arts of the 17th and 18th centuries. The onset of the
Baroque style is associated with the re-Catholicization
of the Czech Lands after 1620, when Bohemia was
annexed to the Austrian Empire as confiscated property.
The Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648) brought general
devastation, and it took several decades before Europe
began to recover in from its aftermath. In the late 17th
century, economic prosperity re-emerged and the arts
thrived. Following this, in the late 17th and early 18th
centuries, monasteries arose as centers of learning,
further strengthening the Catholic Church. During this
period, Prague became an important European center
of artistic creativity, a magnet that attracted foreign
artists and craftsmen of every trade, with with intensity
similar to that of Rudolf II. The period of the 17th and
18th centuries is represented by collections of Meissen
porcelain, jewelry, glassware, ceramics, metalware, lace,
furniture, and wooden objects manufactured using
the technique of “Eger relief intarsia,” which involves
the use of inlaid wood to create a three-dimensional
appearance.
8©Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Summer dress, c.1905, cloth and machine lace. Photograph by Gabriel Urbánek
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The Nineteenth Century (Neoclassicism, Empire Style, Biedermeier, Historical Revival Styles)
Decorative objects of the Biedermeier period reflect
the Czech Lands’ peaceful development following the
Napoleonic Wars up to the revolutionary year 1848,
and are the highlight of this section of the exhibition.
Attention is also given to the Historical Revival trends
in the decorative arts of the second half of the 19th
century, associated with Czech society’s nascent
emancipation movement. This section includes small
furniture items manufactured by master craftsmen, and
the first furniture factories (e. g., Thonet company).
Other notable tableware and decorative pieces made
of cast iron, engraved and painted glass, porcelain,
hand-colored prints, and other objects. Among the first
artifacts in the holdings of decorative art museums,
electrotype copies of historical items in this display
merit note. These pieces were of importance in
the training and inspiration of art students. Textile
production of the period is well represented in this
section, as is Bohemian garnet jewelry.
The Twentieth Century(Art Nouveau, Cubism, Art Deco, Function)
The fifth and final section focuses on the period up
to 1918, when the Czech Lands were under Austro-
Hungarian rule. During this time the arts and culture
were characterized by the emergence of modern
artistic tendencies and movements, such as the Art
Nouveau and Cubism. The First World War ended
in the disintegration of Austria-Hungary and the
establishment of an independent, multinational
Czechoslovak state. Czechoslovakia’s art and
architecture were molded by attempts to codify a
national style (Art Deco, Classical Revival) on the one
hand, and by the influence of international trends on
the other (Functionalism, Abstract Art). This section
presents artworks from the periods of Art Nouveau,
Czech Cubism, Art Deco and Functionalism until 1939, a
year that marked a major turning point in history.
The superb Art Nouveau displays include remarkable
work by Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939), professor of
the School of Applied Arts in Prague, and many others.
The glass and ceramics collection includes objects
produced by the Czech firm Johann Lötz-Witwe
Glassworks in Klášterský Mlýn (Klostermühle) and the
Harrach Glassworks (Gräflich Harrachsche Glasfabrik)
in Nový Svět (Neuwelt). The display devoted to the
Cubist style includes furniture and ceramics designed
by architects Josef Gočár (1880–1945) and Pavel
Janák (1882–1956), as well as work in other media.
Other Czech artists represented are Vlastislav Hofman
(1884–1964) and Rudolf Stockar (1866–1957). The
Art Deco style is exemplified by the creative output
of Jaroslav Horejc (1886–1983) and a selection of
photographs by František Drtikol (1883–1961). The
Functionalist period is represented by a series of
advertising photographs by Josef Sudek (1896–1976),
porcelain designed by Ladislav Sutnar (1897-1976), and
other objects.
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©Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Vase, c. 1600, glass and gilding. Photograph by Gabriel Urbánek
©Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Cup with a Galley on the Lid, early 17th century, silver. Photograph by Gabriel Urbánek
©Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Small Beer Mug with a Pewter lid, c. 1600, faience painted with high glass paints. Photograph by Gabriel Urbánek
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About The MuseumThe establishment of the Museum of Decorative Arts
in Prague in 1885 reflected the increasing cultural
and educational importance of the Crown Lands of
Bohemia, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
At the time artists, theorists, and the general public
were concerned with the unintended effects on
craftsmanship caused by the Industral Revolution. This
apprehension, as well as the inspiration provided by
a similar institution—the South Kensington Museum
(now Victoria and Albert Museum), which opened in
London in 1852—led to the founding of this museum
dedicated to the decorative arts. Between 1897 and
1900, the building, designed by the architect Josef
Schulz, was constructed on a plot of land located
between the Old Jewish Cemetery and a street on the
edge of Josefov quarter.
Since its establishment, the Museum of Decorative Arts
in Prague has focused on general and applied research
in the fields of Czech and foreign decorative arts,
design, books, photography, and clothing. The Museum
administers, researches and processes art collections,
and presents its findings in specialized publications,
short- and long-term exhibitions, lectures, and other
educational activities. The Museum is one of the most
prominent state-subsidized cultural institutions in
the Czech Republic, with more than 250,000 items in
its holdings. The institution plays an important role in
supporting contemporary applied art and design, while
also closely collaborating with vocational schools.
Besides its local exhibition projects, the Museum puts
considerable emphasis on presenting its collections
abroad.
A fully illustrated catalogue published by IA&A will
accompany the exhibition. Masterpieces from the
Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague is organized
by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC in
collaboration with the Museum of Decorative Arts in
Prague.
© Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Detail of Small Chest, Limoges, 16th century, wood and enamel on copper. Photograph by Gabriel Urbánek
12©Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Small Chest, Limoges, 16th century, wood and enamel on copper. Photograph by Gabriel Urbánek
EXHIBITION SPECIFICATIONSNumber of Works:Approximately 300 works
Organized by:The Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, under the guidance of Michal Stříbrný
Curators:Helena Brožková, Jiří Fronek, Konstantina Hlaváčková, Milan Hlaveš, Daniela Karasová, Helena Koenigsmarková, Petra Matějovičová, Marie Míčová, Jan Mlčoch, Jan Schöttner, Michal Stříbrný, Petr Štembera, Eva Uchalová, Lucie Vlčková, Radim Vondráček
Project coordinators:Dušan Seidl, Head of Department of Presentation Veronika Mědílková, Manager, Department of Collection Services
Requirements:High security, approximately 5,000 square feet
Participation Fee:Please inquire
Shipping:IA&A makes all arrangements; exhibitors pay outgoing shipping costs within the contiguous U.S.
Booking Period: 12 weeks
Tour: Fall 2018 – Fall 2020
Publication:Exhibition Catalogue
Contact:Lindsay [email protected]