Crystal Glass in a Cultural Context

Pieces, designs and examples of decorative glasswork by Joh. Oertel & Co. can be found in notable museums and art-historical collections. They trace the development of crystal glass at the intersection of European modernism, artisanal craftsmanship and creative collaboration.

The company’s connections with the Wiener Werkstätte and the Technical School for the Glass Industry in Haida are of particular significance. Designs and completed pieces originating in this milieu illustrate the close relationship between craftsmanship, design and decorative glasswork in the early twentieth century.

Selected Collections

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Preserves original design and workshop drawings for crystal and drinking glass series from Joh. Oertel & Co.

MAK – Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna
Holds in its collections molded and decorated glasses of the Wiener Werkstätte based on designs by Dagobert Peche, Mathilde Flögl, and Felice Rix, among others, which were executed by Joh. Oertel & Co.

Leopold Museum, Vienna
Documents the collaboration between Viennese artists and the refinement workshops from Haida.

Passau Glass Museum and Sudeten German Museum Munich
Exhibit examples of Bohemian glass refinement, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco from the history of the house.