Sherwood photo: Courtesy ofStudio Cave Canem /
Crystalline Box
photo: Gabriel Urbdnekand Ondrej Kocourek
W I D E W O R L D OF C R A F T
whether created by traditional
techniques or the latest
technologies.”
One of Qubus’ best-known
pieces has the form of a pair of
Wellington boots, but cast in
porcelain and embellished with
a traditional blue “onion” pat-
tern. Waterproof Vase - Onion
not only gives a new reading to
an old pattern, but also reinter-
prets function. Ornament &
Crime, a porcelain head of Len-
in with the blue onion pattern
scattered across the face, exem-
plifies the studio’s tilt toward
social and political commentary
with a humorous bite.
In their shop at D O X are
masterpieces by some of the
Czech Republic’s craft legends
- glassworks by Frantisek
Vlzner, jewelry by the Belda
family (whose handmade jew-
elry, dating back to 1915, can
also be found in their own shop
in Prague’s center) - alongside
work by established contempo-
rary artisans, including wood
pieces by René Sulc and porce-
lain by Daniel Pirsc, another
artisan known for offbeat mate-
rial interpretations, such as por-
celain wallpaper. Along with
wood bowls and a collection of
wooden toys and reproductions
of vintage wooden toys by
famous Czech designers, the
shop carries work by acclaimed
woodturner Antonin Hepnar,
as well as lamps by emerging
designer Шага Sumovd.
It’s this unique blend of past
and present that characterizes
Prague’s craft world. It’s no
wonder that, given such a rich
history, contemporary Czech
artists are creating works of
unusual depth.
+
Joann Plockovâ is a freelance
journalist in Prague.
The “Stories of Material”
exhibition at the Museum
of Decorative Arts chron-
icles the development
of techniques and artistic
styles from the ancient
world to the 20th century.
Left: The region’s
glasswork is world-
renowned.
Crystalline
Box
(1911) by Pavel
Janak is among 20,000
pieces in the museum’s
glass collection.
Studio Cave Canem
adds contemporary flair
to traditional glass
staining technique,
shown here in its 2008
Sherwood collection.
