A comprehensive historical collection spans three buildings of the Museum of Glass and Jewelry (in Czech Muzeum skla a bižuterie )in Jablonec nad Nisou in the north of the Czech Republic. Not only will visitors find an exhaustive display of artifacts and information about Bohemian glass-making through the ages, but they will also enjoy geographical and natural history displays as well as textiles and clothing. In addition, one location is an actual preserved glass-maker’s cabin.
Jablonec nad Nisou
Jablonec nad Nisou lies near Liberec about an hour north of Prague. The biggest claim to fame of the small town is its glass costume jewelry. In the late 1600’s the glass-making industry was taking hold in the area (e.g., Bohemian crystal), and by the early 1700’s people in Jablonec were already well known for their jewelry products. In fact, by the time Austrian Emperor Franz Josef decreed it an official town in 1866, the jewelry makers in the area had already established trade with most of the rest of the world and there was plenty of wealth pouring in. Much of the 1920’s costume jewelry in the United States came from this area.
Main Art Nouveau Building
The main museum building was opened in 1904. It fell into disrepair over the years but has recently undergone a thorough rebuilding partially financed by the European Union. This lovely, large structure displays a vast array of glass-making artifacts, machines, raw materials, textiles, models, coins and other information related to the area, all in chronological order.
Since glass-making is such an integral part of the history of the land, a well-rounded history of the area is presented. In addition to the professional displays, this building also houses a library containing historic and current documents from the glass industry.
Visitors will also enjoy a warm welcome from the staff, some of whom speak English. Pamphlets, recordings and printed museum guides are also available in English. In addition, visitors can purchase replica jewelry in the gift shop.
Belveder Art Gallery
The Belveder Gallery is one of the oldest baroque buildings in town. Here guests can enjoy not only jewelry exhibits but also natural and national historical exhibits as well. It is worth a visit just for the architecture.
The Memorial of Glass Making at Kristianov in the Jizera Mountains
This log cabin built in 1775 by the Riedel family is in a remote location in the nearby mountains. The Kristianov area was one of the most prolific glass producing regions. The house is preserved as it was while it was a working glass factory. Visitors can tour the house for a very small fee and see how the families lived who made the glass during the glass heyday.
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