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

Description

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

An organic decorative bowl made of Czechoslovak art glass, representing a flagship example of the so-called Brussels style from the turn of the 1950s and 1960s. The piece was made from a thick, heavy glass mass, hand-formed using the hot-glass technique.

The vessel features a bionic, asymmetrical form with rounded, smoothly modelled edges. The body is made of transparent glass with a delicate greenish tint, incorporating four multicoloured, contrasting patches in shades of intense cobalt, vivid green, amber honey and warm pink-brown.

This distinctive interplay of colour accents, combined with the thick-walled glass, optimises the refraction of light, giving the piece 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 piece is preserved in very good vintage condition, with natural micro-scratches on the underside caused by sliding.