Best known to collectors for their magnificent Marmoriertes and Phänomen glass creations, the Loetz Glass company was a leading Art Nouveau producer of fine glass vases, bowls and other decorative objects through the mid-19th and early 20th centuries.
Shortly before his death in 1855, attorney Frank Gerstner transferred sole ownership of his glassworks company to his wife Susanne. The company, which was founded in what is now the Czech Republic in 1836 by Johann Eisner, was renamed Johann Loetz Witwe by Susanne Gerstner as a tribute to her late husband who preceded Gerstner, a glassmaker named Johann Loetz (Loetz was also known as Johann Lötz).
For 20 years, Gerstner led the company, expanding its manufacturing and distribution capacity. It proved profitable, but the glassworks' popularity didn't start gaining significant momentum until after Gerstner transferred sole ownership to her grandson Maximilian von Spaun in 1879.
Von Spaun and designer Eduard Prochaska developed innovative techniques and solutions for reproducing historical styles of decorative glass objects, such as the very popular marbled Marmoriertes glass — a technique that lends glass an appearance that is similar to semi-precious stones such as onyx or malachite. Under von Spaun’s leadership, the firm’s works garnered them success in Brussels, Vienna and Munich, and Johann Loetz Witwe won awards at the Paris World Exposition in 1889. In 1897 von Spaun first saw Favrile glass in Bohemia and Vienna.
The work in Favrile glass, a type of iridescent art glass that had recently been developed and patented by Louis Comfort Tiffany, founder of iconic American multimedia decorative-arts manufactory Tiffany Studios, inspired von Spaun to explore the era’s burgeoning Art Nouveau style — or, as the firm was established in a German-speaking region, the Jugendstil style.
The company partnered with designers Hans Bolek, Franz Hofstötter and Marie Kirschner and thrived until von Spaun passed it down to his son, Maximilian Robert.
With the Art Deco style taking shape around the world, the company was unable or unwilling to adapt to change. Loetz Glass collaborated with influential names in architecture and design, including the likes of Josef Hoffmann, a central figure in the evolution of modern design and a founder of the Vienna Secession. Unfortunately, the glassworks’ partnerships did them little good, and the company’s mounting financial problems proved difficult to navigate. Two World Wars and several major fires at the glassworks took their toll on the firm, and in 1947 the Loetz Glass Company closed its doors for good.
Today the exquisite glass produced by Loetz Glass Company remains prized by collectors and enthusiasts alike.
On 1stDibs, find antique Loetz Glass Company glassware, decorative objects and lighting.
| Average Sold Price |
| $2,680 |
| Styles |
| Materials |
| Related Creators |
Loetz Blue Green Iridescent Art Glass Trumpet Vase
By Loetz Glass
Located in Tarry Town, NY
A spectacular large Loetz Austria studio art glass vase, showcasing the exceptional craftsmanship and luminous iridescent effects for which Loetz glass is renowned. This impressive v...
Art Glass
Loetz “Titania” Art Nouveau Green Iridescent Glass Vase with Silver Overlay
By Loetz Glass
Located in Miami, FL
Loetz “Titania” Art Nouveau Green Iridescent Glass Vase with Silver Overlay, Art Nouveau Loetz “Titania” Iridescent Green Glass Vase, Silver Overlay Deco...
Glass, Art Glass
Art Nouveau Green iridescent glass Pique Fleurs' vase by Loetz' with Grille
By Loetz Glass
Located in Verviers, BE
Art Nouveau Green iridescent glass Pique Fleurs' vase by Loetz' with Grille Subtle, hand blown glass vase in the Art Deco style. This design for vases is often called 'Pique fleurs'...
Brass
Loetz Silberiris Candia Iridescent Twin Handled Glass Vase
By Loetz Glass
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Stylish Bohemian Silberiris Candia iridescent glass vase with brown handles by Johann Loetz Witwe and dating from around 1900. The simply shaped vase ref PN 85/5151 in the Loetz cata...
Blown Glass
Bohemia Loetz Art Nouveau Twisted Dephi Glass Vase 1899
By Loetz Glass
Located in Worcester Park, GB
A large Loetz Delphi pattern vase in green with a bulbus near spherical top with a large opening over a round base with a typical Loetz twist to the body. Finely iridised a classic L...
Art Glass
$5,500
H 10.5 in W 8 in D 5 in
Loetz For Boudon And Klur Ruby Papillon Glass And Gilt Metal Mounted Vase
By Loetz Glass
Located in Dallas, TX
Loetz For Boudon And Klur Gilt Metal Monted Glass Vase. A highly sought after vase culminating the zenith of Loetz and the Art Nouveau design. Czech Republic Circa 1900 Rubin Ruby Papillon Decor Metal mount with indistinct impressed marks for Boudon and Klur Height: 10.5 Inches x 8 Inches wide x 5 Inches deep Condition: Very good with wear commensurate of age and use with some loss to gilt, The Loetz glassworks existed in Klostermuhle, Austria, for just over a hundred years, starting from 1840. But its heyday was during the life-time of Max Ritter Von Spaun, grandson of the original Johann Loetz who had founded the company. Von Spaun took over the company in 1879 and ran it until 1908, a year before his death. He was assisted by Eduard Prochaska, his technical specialist, and together they invented, designed and produced a whole series of wonderful new types of glass, taking out several patents and winning awards at all the major world exhibitions during the 1890's and the first years of the new century. The Loetz company were amongst the leaders in Art Nouveau design and expecially in irridescent art glass. "Papillon" glass, like the vase on the left, is sometimes known today as "oil spot" glass. Another favourite Loetz colouring was irridized glass with pulled trails called "Phenomenon" glass. There were irridized vases with ribbons of metallic colours winding over the surface, and many spectacular designs with applied trails of beautiful colours, or simply pulled out of the body of the glass to form handles or decoration. About 1900 the company started collaborating with outside designers, and some great artists designed pieces for Lotz, notably Joseph Hofmann, Koloman Moser, Maria Kirchner, and Hofstatter. In 1908 Loetz was taken over by Max Von Spaun's son, also called Max, and although it struggled financially (going through bankruptcy in 1911 and again in 1931) there were several great designers whose work was produced by Loetz during those years and through the art deco period. These included Adolf Beckert...
Metal
Loetz Art Nouveau Creta Glatt Iridescent Art Glass Vase, Circa 1900
By Loetz Glass
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Art Nouveau period Creta Glatt iridescent art glass vase By Loetz Austria, Circa 1900 Measures: 6.25"W x 4.25"D x 5.5"H. Good original vintage condition.
Art Glass
Loetz Art Nouveau Iridescent Oil Spot Vase with Bronze Frame
By Loetz Glass
Located in Toledo, OH
Beautiful Loetz Art Nouveau oil spot vase with an iridized finish in shades of green with highlights of blues, purples and golds as the light shifts. The...
Bronze
| Sold Date | Sold Price | Category | Material | Creation Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| $2,680 |
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months |
| $330-$10,205 |
| Sold price range of items in the past 12 months |
