Best known to collectors for their magnificent Marmoriertes and Phänomen glass creations, the Loetz Glass company was a leading Art Nouveau producer of fine glass vases, bowls and other decorative objects through the mid-19th and early 20th centuries.
Shortly before his death in 1855, attorney Frank Gerstner transferred sole ownership of his glassworks company to his wife Susanne. The company, which was founded in what is now the Czech Republic in 1836 by Johann Eisner, was renamed Johann Loetz Witwe by Susanne Gerstner as a tribute to her late husband who preceded Gerstner, a glassmaker named Johann Loetz (Loetz was also known as Johann Lötz).
For 20 years, Gerstner led the company, expanding its manufacturing and distribution capacity. It proved profitable, but the glassworks' popularity didn't start gaining significant momentum until after Gerstner transferred sole ownership to her grandson Maximilian von Spaun in 1879.
Von Spaun and designer Eduard Prochaska developed innovative techniques and solutions for reproducing historical styles of decorative glass objects, such as the very popular marbled Marmoriertes glass — a technique that lends glass an appearance that is similar to semi-precious stones such as onyx or malachite. Under von Spaun’s leadership, the firm’s works garnered them success in Brussels, Vienna and Munich, and Johann Loetz Witwe won awards at the Paris World Exposition in 1889. In 1897 von Spaun first saw Favrile glass in Bohemia and Vienna.
The work in Favrile glass, a type of iridescent art glass that had recently been developed and patented by Louis Comfort Tiffany, founder of iconic American multimedia decorative-arts manufactory Tiffany Studios, inspired von Spaun to explore the era’s burgeoning Art Nouveau style — or, as the firm was established in a German-speaking region, the Jugendstil style.
The company partnered with designers Hans Bolek, Franz Hofstötter and Marie Kirschner and thrived until von Spaun passed it down to his son, Maximilian Robert.
With the Art Deco style taking shape around the world, the company was unable or unwilling to adapt to change. Loetz Glass collaborated with influential names in architecture and design, including the likes of Josef Hoffmann, a central figure in the evolution of modern design and a founder of the Vienna Secession. Unfortunately, the glassworks’ partnerships did them little good, and the company’s mounting financial problems proved difficult to navigate. Two World Wars and several major fires at the glassworks took their toll on the firm, and in 1947 the Loetz Glass Company closed its doors for good.
Today the exquisite glass produced by Loetz Glass Company remains prized by collectors and enthusiasts alike.
On 1stDibs, find antique Loetz Glass Company glassware, decorative objects and lighting.
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau "Silvered Phänomen Vase" by Loetz Witwe
By Loetz Glass
Located in London, GB
This attractive Johann Loetz glass vase displays a classic baluster form with a gently flared rim, enriched by a vibrant iridescent surface in olive green and golden tones. The glas...
Silver
Austrian Loetz Iridescent Art Nouveau Glass Vase Sterling Overlay
By Loetz Glass
Located in Toledo, OH
Austrian Loetz iridescent art glass vase in papillon finish with sterling silver applied overlay. Art Nouveau style in a dimpled form shades of green ...
Glass
Art Nouveau Loetz Glass Vase with Silver Overlay, Austria
By Loetz Glass
Located in Roma, IT
Art Nouveau Loetz Glass vase with Alvin Silver Overlay, realized in Austria in 1900/1910. Very good condition.
Art Glass
Loetz Papillon Glass And Van Houten Pewter Vase
By Loetz Glass
Located in Dallas, TX
Loetz Mixed Cobalt, Green and Red Papillon Glass Vase. A rare mixed color Iridescent papillon Art Nouveau art glass vase mounted with a scrolled pewter mount in wonderful condition ready to join as the crown of your collection. Rubin (Ruby) Papillon Decor Czech Republic Circa 1900 Pewter mount with impressed stamp marks "1670" and crow and lion in shield marks for the Van Houten Manufacturing Co. Height: 10.5 Inches X 5 Inch diameter Condition: Excellent in original condition commensurate of age and use. The Loetz glassworks existed in Klostermuhle, Austria, for just over a hundred years, starting from 1840. But its heyday was during the life-time of Max Ritter Von Spaun, grandson of the original Johann Loetz who had founded the company. Von Spaun took over the company in 1879 and ran it until 1908, a year before his death. He was assisted by Eduard Prochaska, his technical specialist, and together they invented, designed and produced a whole series of wonderful new types of glass, taking out several patents and winning awards at all the major world exhibitions during the 1890's and the first years of the new century. The Loetz company were amongst the leaders in Art Nouveau design and expecially in irridescent art glass. "Papillon" glass, like the vase on the left, is sometimes known today as "oil spot" glass. Another favourite Loetz colouring was irridized glass with pulled trails called "Phenomenon" glass. There were irridized vases with ribbons of metallic colours winding over the surface, and many spectacular designs with applied trails of beautiful colours, or simply pulled out of the body of the glass to form handles or decoration. About 1900 the company started collaborating with outside designers, and some great artists designed pieces for Lotz, notably Joseph Hofmann, Koloman Moser, Maria Kirchner, and Hofstatter. In 1908 Loetz was taken over by Max Von Spaun's son, also called Max, and although it struggled financially (going through bankruptcy in 1911 and again in 1931) there were several great designers whose work was produced by Loetz during those years and through the art deco period. These included Adolf Beckert...
Pewter
Loetz Glass Vase with Sterling Silver Overlay, circa 1900
By Loetz Glass
Located in New York, NY
Loetz Glass vase with sterling silver overlay, circa 1900.
Art Glass
Quezal New York Art Nouveau Iridescent Silver Overlay Vase
By Quezal
Located in New York, NY
Art Nouveau glass vase with engraved silver overlay. Made by Quezal in New York, ca 1900. Ovoid with gently flared mouth rim. Open overlay with loose and distended blooms and entwine...
Silver
$2,974
H 9.45 in Dm 4.14 in
Viennese Art Nouveau Vase Johann Loetz Witwe Creta Papillon decoration ca. 1898
By Loetz Glass
Located in Klosterneuburg, AT
Vase, Johann Loetz Witwe, Creta Papillon decoration, ca. 1898 technique: glass, mould-blown and freeform, reduced and iridescent bib.: A. Adlerova, E. Ploil, H. Ricke, T. Vlcek (ed...
Glass
Loetz Candia Silberiris Glass Vase with Silver Overlay
By Loetz Glass
Located in Dallas, TX
Loetz Candia Silberiris Glass Vase with Silver Overlay Circa 1900 Height: 5.2 inches (13.0 cm) Diameter: 3 Inches (7.5 cm) Condition: Glass vas...
Art Glass
Rare Loetz Phaenomen Vase Crete with rare decor c1898
By Loetz Glass
Located in Worcester Park, GB
A stunning and rare undocumented Loetz Phaenomen vase. Waisted and with a flared foot with four crimps to the top. It is also decorated in raised gold enamelling (a profusion of 3 l...
Art Glass
$4,659
H 7.09 in W 3.15 in D 3.15 in
Early 20th Century Austrian "Blue Papillon Silvered Vase II" by Loetz Witwe
By Loetz Glass
Located in London, GB
A very beautiful early 20th Century Austrian blue papillon glass vase of overlaid with applied silver Art Nouveau floral decoration and everted neck with slivered rim and with serial...
Silver
Johann Lötz Witwe Art Nouveau 3-Handles Vase Decor Crete Papillon, Austria c1898
By Loetz Glass
Located in Vienna, AT
Finest Bohemian Art Nouveau Glass Vase: Mould blown baluster shaped vase on flush stand, bulbous body with attached conical flared neck, three handles set on the side of the mouth r...
Glass
Johann Lötz Witwe Art Nouveau Solirary Vase, Creta Papillon, Austria ca 1900
By Loetz Glass
Located in Vienna, AT
Finest Bohemian Art Nouveau Glass Vase: Mould-blown solitary vase on a flush stand; conically rising body, forming gently rounded shoulders; long, slender neck tapering further towar...
Glass
Large Johann Lötz Witwe Art Nouveau Vase, Candia Papillon, Bohemia, Austria 1898
By Loetz Glass
Located in Vienna, AT
Large, mould-blown vase on a flared foot, widening upwards from a short, slender stem in the shape of a bud, flared rim above a slight constriction, colourless glass with a Candia fi...
Glass
Loetz Art Nouveau Vase Crete Diaspora Silver Iris, Austria-Hungary, Around 1902
By Loetz Glass
Located in Vienna, AT
In the model with irregular spherical decor blown body in baluster shape, round stand, bulbous widening upwards with four times indented wall, slight constriction, flared mouth rim pressed into quatrefoil, polished pontil. Shape: Production number / pattern not preserved Decor: Crete Diaspora Silver Iris Green glass with silver...
Glass
Johann Lötz Witwe Art Nouveau Vase, Decor Cobalt Papillon, Austria circa 1899
By Loetz Glass
Located in Vienna, AT
Exceptional Bohemian Art Nouveau glass vase: Mould blown into a slender, slightly bulbous vase body with a flush base, indented four times on the sides to form a four-sided cross-section, short grooved neck with a wide flared rim, with a ground and polished pontil. Form: Series I Prod. no. PN 7869, year 1899 (new: 105, year 1900) Decor: Cobalt Papillon Cobalt blue underlaid, colorless glass with rolled-in silver yellow crumbs, model-blown and formed, reduced and iridescent. Vase manufactured by Loetz Widow, Klostermühle, Bohemia Dating of manufacture: 1899 Size: Height: 24,0 cm / 9.44 in Diameter: 10,0 cm / 3.93 in Bibliography: - LÖTZ, Böhmisches Glas / Bohemian Glass 1880-1940, Band 1 / Part 1, Work Monograph, Prestel-Verlag, Munich, 1989, page 91, nr. 50 Tulip...
Glass
Johann Lötz Witwe Art Nouveau Vase, Argus, Phenomenon Gre 2/351, Austria ca 1902
By Loetz Glass
Located in Vienna, AT
Mould blown body widening conically towards the top on a flush round base, the rim shaped into a trefoil by impressions, polished pontil. Form: Prod. No. - PN 2/603, year 1902 Deco...
Glass
