Rare Vase

The glass factory was founded in Klostermühle (Klášterský Mlýn) and was acquired by the glassworks master Johann Lötz as early as around 1840. Lötz’ widow continued the glassworks after his death under the name of Johann Lötz Witwe. The grandson Max Ritter von Spaun took over the glass factory in 1879 and completely modernised it. As Bohemia’s most important art glass manufacturer in the late 19th and early 20th century, Johann Lötz Witwe enjoyed international recognition. The company achieved international standing on account of its Art Nouveau glasses, which enabled it – taking as its model the American Louis C. Tiffany – to develop into an autonomous, wide-ranging product line. Around the turn of the century, when Max von Spaun attained major success with glasses in the ‘Phänomen’ style, the glassworks cultivated contacts with the Viennese art scene and the glass publishing company E. Bakalowits Söhne, Vienna, as well as J. & L. Lobmeyr, Vienna. The resultant collaboration with such artists as Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser and their students reached its highest point in the years directly preceding 1900. Especially characteristic of these years are the metallic iridescent coloured glasses. The Lötz company ceased operations in the Second World War.