Nový Bor Sculptures

A gift on the 70th birthday of Joseph Stalin from

the craftsmen-glassblowers of the Czech town of Nový Bor, 1949

Filled with light, colour and air, these items

seem to hold some kind of a secret

in themselves: nature's secret or the

maker's idea! Each of the sculptures is

unique and there is an uncontested

reason for that.

The makers used the free-blowing technique, known since the

ancient times, to make these sculptures. This technique is

also called the free-blowing and moulding technique: the sculptor

manually "manipulates" the molten glass right by the furnace.

In an environment of extreme temperature, nearly 500 degrees

Celsius, the artist shapes the molten mass, modelling subsequent

refractions in accordance with the author's ideas. This is

why each of the items, created using this technique, is strictly

unique and is only available in one copy.

Skier under the tree

Doctor

Resting youth

reference

A year after the end of the Second World War, Czechoslovakia held

elections, with the help of the Soviet Union, “the liberator country.”

In these elections, the Communists secured 40% of the votes. Soon

after this, in 1948, the country experienced the events, which were

later termed as “Victorious February.” The Communist

Party of Czechoslovakia came to power and its leader, Clement Gottwald,

became the country's President.

This became starting point of a very close relationship between the

USSR and Czechoslovakia, in political, economic and of course cultural spheres.

Elephant under a palm tree

Man with a violin

A youth under the tree reading a book

Old man with an umbrella

Collection custodian:

“Nový Bor is a very scenic town in the north of the

Czech Republic known around the world for its

glasswork. This area has a long-standing tradition of

making bohemian glass, which currently is the Czech

Republic’s ‘visiting card’ around the world. The first

glass workshops appeared in this area back in the

18th century. At this time the production of the

wworld-famous Czech crystal chandeliers started here.

OOne of such chandeliers, presented to Stalin, is

hanging in the halls of our museum.”