Václav ZAJÍC

Václav Zajíc, born in 1951 in Turnov, is one of the prominent Czechoslovak glass designers of the second half of the 20th century. He belongs to the youngest generation of artists working with Czech pressed glass. He was close to art and craftsmanship from an early age – he trained in gemstone cutting and engraving at the Secondary School of Applied Arts in Turnov (1966–1970), which gave him the precision he later brought into his glasswork. He continued to develop his talent at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague (1971–1977), where he studied under such figures as Stanislav Libenský, Václav Plátka, and Jozef Soukup. During his studies, he was also influenced by artist Adolf Matura, under whose guidance he began designing pressed glass as early as 1969.

He distinguished himself as an exceptional designer particularly in the field of pressed glass, focusing on technologies that did not require the use of a metal ring, allowing him to create works with richly plastic, sculpturally shaped surfaces. His designs were primarily realized at the glassworks in Libochovice, where he also contributed to the development of technological innovations, including centrifugal casting.

Vases hold a special place in his work, combining delicate proportions with artistic expressiveness. Their shapes are often inspired by natural structures – flowers, leaves (vase no. 03670), or organic lines (vase no. 3528) – and Zajíc masterfully worked with light in their reliefs.

A significant milestone in his career was joining the state-owned company Sklo Union OBAS in Teplice in 1978, where he worked as an in-house artist. In addition to his design work, he was also involved in teaching – for ten years, he taught technical drawing and engraving at his alma mater in Turnov.

Zajíc's works were repeatedly awarded as Best Product, and beyond serial production, he also engaged in free creation – sculptures, painting, and architectural design.