Bohemian Glass: Bohemian Glass.—The chief carving techniques developed in Germany and Bohemia were wheel cutting in flat facets, hollow cutting, and relief cutting. Bohemian craftsmen revived about 1730 the gilt-glass technique of the Romans of the early Christian era. They used this particularly on stemmed cups and facet-sided beakers. Various motifs were employed for decoration such as oval portrait busts or landscape medallions, often with figures. Johann Joseph Mildner (c.1763-1808) did some of the finest of these pieces of silver gilt.
Venetian glass was exceptionally light and delicate. Most of it was the product of the blowpipe. Because of its thinness it was never cut, but was modelled into extraordinary shapes, made in every variety of color, and ornamented with applied forms resembling dolphins, flowers, wings, stems, and leaves. Much of the Venetian glass was enamelled and gilded in pictorial, foliage, or abstract patterns. Other surface finishes included net, crackled, marbled, lace, and spiralled effects.
Through the migration of Venetian workmen to neighboring countries and especially to Flanders, imitations of Venetian ware became widespread, and this fact, combined with improved materials and processes for glassmaking in other countries, eventually ruined the Venetian industry.
German and Bohemian glass. At first Venetian forms were reproduced in German and Bohemian work, although they were slightly heavier in appearance than the originals. The Germans invented a very hard form of glass which they were able to cut into many shapes and also to enrich by engraving and stippling. Ornament and figures in both incised and relief effects were produced. Beakers, wine glasses, cups, flasks, and figures were made. |
