In the Brtnice Museum of Josef Hoffmann, a collection of glasses and goblets designed by him has been added

Brtnice – The Museum of Josef Hoffmann in Brtnice in the Jihlava region has acquired a collection of glasses, cups, bowls, and jars designed by this architect and designer more than a hundred years ago. The glass, which the Moravian Gallery succeeded in acquiring at auction last year, is part of the permanent exhibition Messenger of Beauty in Hoffmann's birthplace on the square. The gallery presented the new exhibits at today's official opening of the summer season at the museum.

Hoffmann influenced a number of modern architects and designers. "Contemporary authors also relate to him, and some of his designs are still being produced to this day, still have their clients and are part of modern interiors around the world," said Michaela Kádnerová, curator of the design collection at the Moravian Gallery.

The collection of 16 pieces of table glass, which the gallery acquired last year, comes from a private Austrian collection. It was designed around the time of World War I for the Wiener Werkstätte, the firm J. & L. Lobmeyr from Vienna, or for several Czech glassworks. Even at the time of its creation, this thin-walled glass was part of more exclusive furnishings. According to the curator, its pure shape without decorations is unique in the context of its time. "At that time, customers preferred more ornate objects. The turning point came only later, with the acceptance of functionalism," she noted.

The glass is displayed in three showcases. "It's actually just a few pieces, but for us it's an important addition. Because the aim of the Moravian Gallery is to build a collection of realized designs by Josef Hoffmann. The fact that we are able to acquire them is a kind of small miracle, because there are not many original pieces or they are very expensive," the curator stated.

In addition to the permanent exhibition, the museum offers an exhibition titled Josef Hoffmann and the Poldi Phenomenon. It also includes part of the furnishings of the guest rooms from the Poldi House in Kladno, which he designed.

Hoffmann was born in Brtnice in 1870. He was involved in almost all areas of applied arts: he designed glass, porcelain, metals, jewelry, furniture, and patterned textile collections. He died in Vienna in 1956. His birthplace is owned by the town of Brtnice. Since 2006, it has been managed by the Moravian Gallery in Brno. The house serves as a joint workspace for the gallery and the Vienna Museum of Applied Arts.

From May to October, the museum is open daily except for Mondays. Annual attendance is around 2,200 people, often including architects and designers from abroad.