The State Museum of Glass and Costume Jewelry in Jablonec nad Nisou is the only one of its kind in the Czech Republic and in the world. It boasts the world’s largest collection of costume jewelry and the country’s largest glass exhibition. Nowhere else but at the Jablonec museum will you find such a comprehensive representation of costume jewelry in terms of both technology and product range.

The museum’s main building is a cultural monument and was built in 1904 in the Art Nouveau style for the export firm Zimmer & Schmidt. In the same year, but in a different building, the museum’s first exhibition was also opened, at that time still focused on applied arts. Since 2003, the museum has been state-owned and currently manages a collection of 12 million items. It showcases the best of these in its permanent exhibitions or temporary displays.

Since 1964, the museum has operated the last preserved building of the once-important glassmaking settlement in Kristiánov, dating from the second half of the 18th century, located in the heart of the Jizera Mountains. During the summer season, visitors can explore a permanent exhibition dedicated to the settlement and enjoy a pleasant rest and refreshments. Every year on the first Saturday in September, the traditional Glass Festival takes place here.

In the permanent exhibition "The Never-Ending Story of Costume Jewelry", alongside the aforementioned costume jewelry, you can also admire buttons, coins, medals, designer jewelry, historical jewelry, clasps, and clothing accessories from the unique Waldes Collection. The exhibition “The Enchanted Garden – Seven Centuries of Czech Glass” traces the journey of glass from an anonymous goblet to original works of art, including attractive glass prizes and trophies from well-known competitions and polls, such as STAR DANCE, Golden Nightingale, or the TOUR de FRANCE trophies.

In 2020, an architecturally extraordinary glass extension in the form of a giant cut glass crystal was completed, which has also become a new landmark of Jablonec. In this unconventionally designed installation, you can admire part of the world’s largest collection of Christmas ornaments, which the museum houses. The World of Wonders (WOW) exhibition, created by one of the most renowned Czech designers, Jakub Berdych Jr., is based on the fact that Christmas ornaments from Bohemia were mainly exported overseas. That is why the exhibition features display cases reminiscent of Manhattan or an ocean liner.

It also offers thematic exhibitions, a specialized library, museum programs, and creative workshops.

Follow what’s happening at the museum on the website www.msb-jablonec.cz, Facebook, or Instagram