Jiří BRABEC

He was born in 1933 in Prague. From 1948 to 1952, he studied at the Secondary School of Applied Arts for Jewellery in Turnov, focusing on gem and glass engraving under Professor Karel Tuček. He continued his studies at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague (1953–1959), where he worked in the studio of Professor Karel Štipl, who introduced him to the world of engraved and pressed glass. At that time, one of his classmates was the renowned designer František Vízner. After graduation, he briefly taught art education in Prague, but by 1963 he became a designer at the Moravia glassworks in Kyjov. In 1965, he moved to Rosice near Brno, where he worked under the Sklo Union company. He remained there for decades, creating around forty designs, often developed into multi-part sets.

Jiří Brabec is considered one of the key figures of 20th-century Czechoslovak pressed glass. His work is characterized by a minimalist, thoughtful form and an acute sensitivity to the optical qualities of glass. He drew inspiration from nature as well as from the technological possibilities of pressing. His designs show a sense of proportion, a well-thought-out structural logic, and the ability to inject artistic expression into mass-produced objects.

Among Brabec’s most remarkable designs is the vase no. 5149 from 1970. At first glance, it appears as a simple, smooth cylinder. Its true charm, however, lies in the interior, where a visually striking spiral is formed – an internal relief shape that contrasts with the clean outer surface. With this design, Brabec skillfully responded to the period trend of playing with light and volume.

Equally intriguing is Brabec’s anthropomorphic design of vase no. 5155 – known as Girl in a Skirt. This vase, designed in the 1970s, reflects the growing presence of human and animal motifs in pressed glass during that time. Brabec created a vessel in the form of a girl figure with a flared skirt, opting for a decorative and symbolic approach to the human form. This design exemplifies his ability to merge functionality with artistic metaphor, giving pressed glass a new layer of meaning.

Among Jiří Brabec’s iconic works is also the beer mug with a handle, officially designated as Mug with Handle no. 13321. Designed in two sizes – 0.3L and 0.5L – it has been produced since 1972 at the Rudolfova glassworks in Dubí. The mug stands out for its semi-matte surface and bold, circular embossed pattern that mimics hand-cut glass, though it is in fact a product of fully automated production. This illusory effect and the mug’s robust form made it a popular choice in restaurants and pubs, where it became a symbol of Czech hospitality in the 1970s and 1980s. Here, Brabec successfully combined functional design with artistic value, creating an object that retained its visual appeal and popularity over the decades.

Today, Jiří Brabec is regarded as one of the designers who fundamentally influenced the character of Czechoslovak pressed glass. His designs combine craftsmanship with artistic invention – and for that reason, they remain highly sought after not only by collectors but also by design historians and professionals alike.