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.
H 14 in Dm 6 in
Loetz Cobalt Papillon Art Nouveau Vase
By Loetz Glass
Located in Dallas, TX
A Loetz Cobalt Papillon Art Glass and Pewter Art Nouveau Vase. Circa 1900 The shapely design with flared base having four evenly spaced indentations...
Pewter
H 12.21 in Dm 7.09 in
Large Loetz Art Nouveau Vase, Decor Cobalt Papillon, Austria-Hungary, Circa 1900
By Loetz Glass
Located in Vienna, AT
Exceptional Bohemian Art Nouveau glass vase: Blown into the shape of a large, widening body on a flush base, tapering to a spherical top with a slightly raised, wide rim, indented three times in the lower half and twisted to the right, with a ground and polished pontil. Form: Series II Prod. no. PN 883, year 1900 Decor: Cobalt Papillon Cobalt blue underlaid, colorless glass with rolled-in silver yellow crumbs, model-blown and formed, reduced and iridescent. Vase manufactured by Loetz Widow, Klostermühle, Bohemia Dating of manufacture: 1900 Size: Height: 31,0 cm / 12.20 in Diameter: 18,0 cm / 7.08 in Bibliography: LÖTZ, Böhmisches Glas / Bohemian Glass 1880-1940, Band 1 / Part 1,Work Monograph, Prestel-Verlag, Munich, 1989, page 91, nr. 50 Tulip...
Glass
H 9.45 in Dm 3.94 in
Loetz Art Nouveau Vase, Decor Cobalt Papillon, Austria-Hungary, Circa 1899
By Loetz Glass
Located in Vienna, AT
Exceptional Bohemian Art Nouveau glass vase: Mould blown into a slender, slightly bulbous vase body with a flush base, indented four times on the sides to form a four-sided cross-section, short grooved neck with a wide flared rim, with a ground and polished pontil. Form: Series I Prod. no. PN 7869, year 1899 (new: 105, year 1900) Decor: Cobalt Papillon Cobalt blue underlaid, colorless glass with rolled-in silver yellow crumbs, model-blown and formed, reduced and iridescent. Vase manufactured by Loetz Widow, Klostermühle, Bohemia Dating of manufacture: 1899 Size: Height: 24,0 cm / 9.44 in Diameter: 10,0 cm / 3.93 in Bibliography: - LÖTZ, Böhmisches Glas / Bohemian Glass 1880-1940, Band 1 / Part 1, Work Monograph, Prestel-Verlag, Munich, 1989, page 91, nr. 50 Tulip...
Glass
H 7.88 in Dm 6.3 in
Loetz Art Nouveau Vase Cobalt Papillon with Applied Butterflies, Ca 1900
By Loetz Glass
Located in Vienna, AT
Finest Bohemian Art Nouveau glass vase: Mould-blown vase with torus-shaped stand and funnel-shaped attached wall with trefoil-shaped, lobed mouth rim, wall and inside satin-finished, polished pontil. Shape: Production number / pattern not preserved Decor: Cobalt Papillon...
Glass
H 9.53 in Dm 4.34 in
Loetz Art Nouveau Solirary Vase, Creta Papillon, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary, 1900
By Loetz Glass
Located in Vienna, AT
Finest Bohemian Art Nouveau Glass Vase: Mould-blown solitary vase on a flush stand; conically rising body, forming gently rounded shoulders; long, slender neck tapering further towar...
Glass
H 6.78 in Dm 3.15 in
Pair Of Loetz Art Nouveau Single Vases, Ruby Papillon, Austria-Hungary, 1900
By Loetz Glass
Located in Vienna, AT
Two exquisite Bohemian Art Nouveau glass vases: Mould-blown bulbous lower section with a flush base, long narrow neck and straight rim, the bulbous section is rolled into four sections with vertical indentations. Shape: Series II Prod. no. PN 330 (old: 2766; 1890), year 1900 Decor: Ruby Papillon Ruby red underlaid, colorless glass with rolled-in silver yellow crumbs, model-blown and formed, reduced and iridescent. Vase manufactured by Loetz Widow, Klostermühle, Bohemia Dating of manufacture: 1900 Size: Height: 17,2 cm / 6.77 in Diameter: 8.0 cm / 3.14 in Bibliography: - LÖTZ, Böhmisches Glas / Bohemian Glass 1880-1940, Band 1 / Part 1, Work Monograph, Prestel-Verlag, Munich, 1989, page 91, nr. 50...
Glass
H 1.61 in W 1.38 in D 1.38 in
Loetz Austria 1900 Art Nouveau Miniature Cabinet Vase Blue Iridescent Art Glass
By Loetz Glass
Located in Miami, FL
Miniature glass vase designed by Loetz. Gorgeous and very beautiful antique miniature cabinet glass vase, created by Loetz. Made in Bohemia, Aust...
Art Glass
H 5.25 in Dm 9.5 in
Loetz Candia Papillon Art Nouveau Vase
By Loetz Glass
Located in Dallas, TX
Loetz Iridescent and oil spot Flared Neck Art glass Floriform Goose neck vase. Candia Papillon vase Austria Iridescent glass Unsigned Circa 1898 A...
Art Glass
H 5.12 in W 5.12 in D 6.11 in
Art Nouveau Loetz Glass Vase, Early 1900
By Loetz Glass
Located in Roma, IT
Art Nouveau Loetz Glass vase with Alvin Silver Overlay, realized in Austria in 1900/1910. Very good condition.
Art Glass
H 2.37 in Dm 9.45 in
Loetz Art Nouveau Flower Bowl Metallic-Red Papillon, Austria-Hungary, ca 1900
By Loetz Glass
Located in Vienna, AT
Finest large Bohemian art nouveau glass vase: Form-blown, flat, round bowl with a low, 9-fold wavy indented edge, wall and inside satin-finished, contact surface polished. Shape:...
Glass
Antique Art Nouveau American Rookwood Pottery Vellum Vase by Lorinda Epply 1915
By Rookwood Pottery Co.
Located in Portland, OR
Antique American Art Nouveau Rookwood three handled vellum vase, Lorinda Epply, 1915. The blue vase of reversed bell shaped with three elongated handles, around the wide mouth of the...
Ceramic
Antique Art Deco Schneider "Le Verre Francais" 5 Color Cameo Art Glass Vase 1923
By Charles Schneider
Located in Portland, OR
A fine antique French Art Deco five color cameo Art Glass vase, by Charles Schneider, circa 1923. The tapered baluster shaped vase with a muti-color rim and a band of polished styli...
Glass, Art Glass
Antique Art Nouveau Royal Doulton Lambeth Whiskey Jug Silver Mounts London 1903
By Doulton Lambeth, George Betjemann & Sons
Located in Portland, OR
Antique Royal Doulton Lambeth Art Nouveau pottery stoneware whiskey jug with sterling silver mounts by George Betjemann & sons, London 1903. This very stylish Art Nouveau stoneware ...
Sterling Silver
Monumental Pair Antique Chinese Qing Dynasty Famille Rose Porcelain Vases 1900
Located in Portland, OR
A fine pair of Monumental antique Chinese late Qing dynasty period Famille Rose Porcelain vases. The vases of baluster form with applied handles modeled as dragons, each vase is very finely a hand-painted with polychrome scenes of immortal figures in a garden setting. Each vase having a red Qianlong six character mark to the base. Excellent condition, no damage or retoration. This monumental pair of antique...
Porcelain
Antique Pair French Blue Opaline Gilded Enamel Glass Perfume Bottles Flacon 1850
Located in Portland, OR
A very elegant pair of antique French Napoleon III blue enameled & gilded Opaline glass glass scent bottles or falcons, circa 1850. This lovely pair of blue Opaline glass scent bottl...
Enamel
Antique American Art Deco Rookwood Pottery Cream Color Leaping Gazelle Vase 1934
By Rookwood Pottery Co.
Located in Portland, OR
Antique American Art Deco Rookwood pottery vase, 1934. The vase of ovoid form with a cream matt glaze and a blue interior rim, finely decorated with an embossed design of two leaping...
Pottery
