Precious stones from the Bohemian Paradise

The brothers Jan and Václav Fišers from Turnov. Their alleged voyage to Venice, five years of efforts to seize the local secret of secrecy, return to Turnov, dozens of wasted attempts and then - finally success! In 1711 they made the first glass for the production of artificial stones.

THE GLASSHOUSE IN NOVÝ SVĚT

It was in 1712, when Elias Müller built his glassworks on the estate of the Harrach Counts in Jilemnice. It continued in the traditional production of glass, which was produced on the border of the Giant Mountains and the Jizera Mountains in the middle of the 14th century. Even today, you can see not only metallurgical production and blowing glass, but also a hundred-year-old grinding shop. It is driven by a water turbine and transmissions used to distribute the driving force.

ELIAS PALME

Elias Palme, one of the most famous luminaire manufacturers, continued the tradition of chandeliers in Kamenický Šenov. Industrial production of chandeliers was started in 1724 by Josef Palme in Prácheň.

ELDORADO OF BEADS AND SEED BEADS

Surely you would not find in the whole Principle and in the broad surroundings of a person who would say a crooked word about Jan Šourek. After all, it was as if he had come to the Principle of Prosperity and Welfare. As soon as he took possession of the reeve, life in the village began to turn for the better. He was one of the first to venture into the world for business.

JOSEF RIEDEL

Josef Riedel, king of the Jizera Mountains glassmakers, was born in Hejnice in 1816. He was the representative of the sixth generation of the glass family and imprinted his footprint indelibly on the slopes of the Jizera Mountains.

FRIEDRICH EGERMANN

JOSEF PFEIFFER

Josef Pfeiffer - Jablonec entrepreneur and mayor, who was involved in the development of jewelery exports. Everything is confirmed at the imperial court and in 1866 Jablonec became a town during his reign.

BLOWN BEAD and its way to the tree

People can make sense of time and numbers, but not us, beads. However, I have heard that they have been blowing me in the mountains for more than a hundred years. As a bead would put it, that is a long time. You, who have never seen how a bead is born, you don´t know how beautiful life can be....

MELTED GLASS SCULPTURE

In 1920 the first Czech glass school was founded in Železný Brod, thanks to which the town became a center of glass art.

Mapa

Inspired by Crystal Valley

AG Plus

Address

Podhorská 132, Jablonec nad Nisou
Navigate to

Web

agplus.cz

Phone

+420 483 368 779

E-mail

k.brezovska@agplus.cz

Opening hours

 

Arrange your visit before, please mail us 1 week before your planned visit.

For small groups 2 - 4 persons only

The production of glass buttons has kept its unique atmosphere of traditional craft. The origins of the production of glass buttons in the area of the Jizera Mountains dates back to the second half of the 18th century. Originally, it was only about a simple glass part that was embedded in metal support with an eyelet. During the second half of the 19th century, thanks to the manufacturing process, they came up with the idea of embedding the metal eyelet directly into the glass during the production. Skilful metal engravers of the time produced interesting metal decorated punches, which then gave the buttons their uniqueness.
The biggest boom the production dates back to the first third of the 20th century due to a large number of small producers. The high availability of coloured glass and new methods of decorating, such as hand-decorating with real gold, platinum, vacuum treatment or painting, all had an impact on the ever-increasing popularity of glass buttons. Glass buttons, as clothing decoration, were one of the most popular export articles of the Jablonec region. Most of the production was intended for European markets and overseas.
Even today, most of the production travels to foreign markets. The most favourite markets are Japan, USA or Italy. However, it is not mass production, rather small production intended for collectors or hobby sector.

Thanks to the tour, each visitor will experience the unique atmosphere of the traditional production of glass buttons. Our tour starts in the bead pressing workshop, which was built between 1997- 1999. Visitors can see here the whole process starting with melting of glass rods in the kiln, followed by squeezing into pliers, shearing and grinding. Visitors can try the last two operations as well. Then follows the painting shop, where they can see the wide range of forms, shapes and button decors.
In the end, every visitor gets a chance to paint his or her buttons. We will send them to required address after we fire them in the kiln. It is also possible to pick them up the next day. You can also buy some of our unique jewellery made from glass buttons.