Vítkovice Town Hall shines with new replicas of Art Nouveau chandeliers
The Neo-Gothic town hall in Ostrava’s Vítkovice district, which has been a cultural monument since 2023, is now adorned with four unique Art Nouveau chandeliers worth nearly one million crowns. These prestigious replicas were crafted by the Turnov-based company Wranovsky Crystal, which specializes in exceptional crystal chandeliers for clients around the world, from the United States to Saudi Arabia and Japan. The light fixtures were created based on original drawings by architect Max von Ferstl from 1901–1902, which were not discovered in the archives until 2025. The original pieces were likely lost during the 20th century, so the city council approached leading experts to restore the building’s historic appearance.
For Josef Wranovský’s family business, producing pieces based on historical drawings was a major professional challenge. A whole team of specialists was involved in this complex process, ranging from designers and technicians to metalworkers and mold makers, all the way to the glassmakers themselves. The result is a series of technically demanding pieces, including a main two-story chandelier that weighs 100 kg, measures 2.5 meters in diameter, and is adorned with 21 roses and 240 leaves. Wranovsky Crystal managed the entire process, from signing the contract to the demanding installation on scaffolding, in a record three months. Thanks to their mastery, the ceremonial hall and adjacent spaces have once again been provided with representative lighting that meets the highest artistic standards.
