Bohemian glass

It has a centuries long history of being internationally recognised for its high quality, craftsmanship, beauty and often innovative designs.

Hand-cut, engraved, blown and painted decorative glassware ranging from champagne flutes to enormous chandeliers, ornaments, figurines and other glass items are among the best known Czech exports and immensely popular as tourist souvenirs.

The Czech Republic is home to numerous glass studios and schools attended by local and foreign students.

The oldest archaeological excavations of glass-making sites in the region date to around 1250 and are located in the Lusatian Mountains of Northern Bohemia.

Other notable Czech sites of glass-making throughout the ages are Skalice u České Lípy, Jablonec nad Nisou, Železný Brod, Poděbrady, Karlovy Vary, Kamenický Šenov and Nový Bor.

In the European Union, the labeling of "crystal" products is regulated by Council Directive 69/493/EEC, which defines four categories, depending on the chemical composition and properties of the material.

During the era, the Czech lands became the dominant producer of decorative glassware and the local manufacture of glass earned international reputation in high Baroque style from 1685 to 1750.

Czech crystal chandeliers could be found in the palaces of the French king Louis XV, Austrian empress Maria Theresa and Elizabeth of Russia.

These glass objects were made in huge quantities in large factories and were available by mail order throughout Europe and America.

Glass artisanship remained at a high level even under the Communists because it was considered ideologically innocuous and it helped promote the good name of the country.

Various sorts of glassware, art glass, ornaments, figurines, costume jewellery, beads and others also remain internationally valued.