Glass ashtray “Rhapsody” designed by Frantisek Zemek, Mstišov Glassworks, Czechoslovakia, 1960s

Description

Rhapsody glass ashtray designed by Frantisek Zemek, Mstišov Glassworks, Czechoslovakia, 1960s

An organic decorative ashtray made of Czechoslovak art glass, representing a flagship example of the so-called Brussels style from the turn of the 1950s and 1960s. The object was made from a thick, heavy glass mass, hand-formed using traditional glassmaking techniques.

The vessel is distinguished by its bionic, asymmetrical form with rounded, fluidly modelled edges. The body is made of transparent glass with a delicate greenish tint, into which four multicoloured, contrasting patches have been embedded in shades of intense cobalt, rich green, amber honey, and warm pink and brown.

This distinctive interplay of colour accents, combined with the thick-walled glass, enhances the refraction of light, giving the object an exceptionally dynamic, sculptural character. The “Rhapsody” collection by František Zemek (1913–1960) is one of the most recognisable and sought-after series in the history of post-war Czech glass.

The item is preserved in very good vintage condition, with natural micro-scratches on the base caused by sliding.