Customer Reviews

Lötz: Bohemian Glass 1880-1940

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I bought this book in the hopes of learning more about the glass that has become my collecting passion. At over $50, I expected this to be a very complete book that would cover the different decors and styles of glass made by Loetz. However, after a very brief description of the early decors such Papillon, I found the vast majority of this book to focus on the Phanomen decor, with very little information on other decors, especially the earlier ones. The reference pages in the back of the book were very helpful (giving the date, genre and colors for a particular shaped vase), but again, most of these were Phanomen and most of the glass I have seen that I know to be documented Loetz are not even mentioned.
In general, I am glad I bought this book - the pictures are gorgeous - but wish there was more information on other decors and vase forms created by Loetz.

In the complex and confusing world of vintage art glass where attribution of unsigned examples is often difficult, the adage "a picture is worth a thousand words" applies. In that regard this volume delivers the goods. This book is filled with examples, the vast majority in color, of Loetz art glass. Many are listed with the name of the form designer, the artist or decorator, and whether or not the example is signed or unsigned. Included is a history of the company, exhibition chronology, and its relationship with artists such as those associated with the Wiener Werkstatte. There's a good section on factory marks and signatures, a section on artist biographies, and even a couple of graphically represented pages on "How to Make Iridescent Glass."

This a remake in English of the book published in German by the same authors. This second edition has left out vital information on the earlier decors and Loetz's relationship to important firms such as Max Emmanuel of London. Bakalowitz and Lobmeyer. It is basically geared to the high end Loetz collector, since most of the vases in the book are for the most part unattainable. Thus, the book offers very little help for beginners or middle-end collectors. I have it, but find myself going back to the original 2 volume version in German. I recommend vols. 3 through 6 of the Passau Museum catalog for a much better overview of Bohemian and Czech glass.

I am thrilled to have this wonderfully illustrated book in my Library. It is beyond description, if one tries to portray this history of Loetz Glass in words alone. I found suspected Loetz vases here that I, happily, own, and the authors left nothing to be desired in this publication....for the Loetz owner ~ it is a must have, indeed! Thank you, Amazon, for selling it at half the price of one offered on EBAY! UPS brought a jewell today! Now, hopefully, more Loetz will be on the way!