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.
Loetz Art Nouveau vase whit Colered Details of Irradiated glass 1900s
By Loetz Glass
Located in Verviers, BE
Loetz Art Nouveau vase whit Colered Details of Irradiated glass 1900s Beautifully decorated whit Irradiated glass Rare to find with original condition The piece is in good conditio...
Art Glass
Bohemian Glass Bowl Loetz Cytisus Red Green Orange Gold circa 1902 Jugendstil
By Loetz Glass
Located in Klosterneuburg, AT
Austrian Jugendstil, floral glass bowl, manufactured by Johann Loetz Witwe, red, green, orange, gold, circa 1902, "Cytisus Maigruen" decoration, bohemian glass The "Cytisus" decoration, also known as "golden rain", is one of the most beautiful decor variations produced by the Johann Loetz Witwe glassworks. As with other decorations, Cytisus was also inspired by the secessionist taste in art in Vienna around 1900. The Beethoven frieze by Gustav Klimt in the Vienna Secession can be cited as an example of this type of artistic design. The bowl captivates with its calyx shape, where form and decoration seem to harmonize. The rare color combination of "Maigruen" (May green...
Glass
Loetz Art Nouveau vase whit Colered Details of Irradiated glass 1900s
By Loetz Glass
Located in Verviers, BE
Loetz Art Nouveau vase whit Colered Details of Irradiated glass 1900s Beautifully decorated whit Irradiated glass Rare to find with original condition The piece is in good conditio...
Art Glass
Loetz Art Nouveau Basket Whit Details of Irradiated Glass, 1930s
By Loetz Glass
Located in Verviers, BE
Loetz Art Nouveau Basket whit details of irradiated glass 1900s Beautifully decorated whit Irradiated glass Rare to find with original condition The piece is in good condition and a real beauty...
Art Glass
Viennese Art Nouveau bowl Johann Loetz Witwe Orbulin decoration ca. 1900
By Loetz Glass
Located in Klosterneuburg, AT
bowl, Johann Loetz Witwe, Orbulin decoration, ca. 1900 technique: glass, mould-blown and freeform, reduced and iridescent
Glass
Loetz Small Vase With Colered Dots Austria 1930s
By Loetz Glass
Located in Verviers, BE
Loetz Art Nouveau vase with details of Colered dots glass 1930s Beautifully decorated glass Rare to find with original condition The piece is in good condition and a real beauty! P...
Art Glass
Loetz Art Nouveau vase whit Details of Irradiated glass 1900s
By Loetz Glass
Located in Verviers, BE
Beautifully decorated whit Irradiated glass Rare to find with original condition The piece is in good condition and a real beauty! Photography fails to capture the simple elega...
Art Glass
Loetz Art Nouveau Vide Poch Whit Details of Irradiated Glass, 1900s
By Loetz Glass
Located in Verviers, BE
Loetz Art Nouveau Vide Poch whit details of irradiated glass 1900s Beautifully decorated whit Irradiated glass Rare to find with original condition The piece is in good condition and a real beauty...
Art Glass
Austrian Jugendstil Floral Glass Bowl Loetz Red Gold circa 1902 Secession
By Loetz Glass
Located in Klosterneuburg, AT
Austrian Jugendstil floral glass bowl Johann Loetz Witwe red gold circa 1902 "Cytisus Maigruen" decoration The "Cytisus" decoration, also known as "golden rain", is one of the mos...
Glass
$1,516Sale Price|20% Off
Art Nouveau Loetz Red Papillon Gilt Metal Mounted Centerpiece
By Loetz Glass
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Art Nouveau Loetz Red Papillon Gilt Metal-Mounted Centerpiece Austria, circa 1910 This Art Nouveau Loetz Red Papillon Gilt Metal Mounted Centerpiece, made in Austria circa 1910, is ...
Metal
Foam Art Glass Vase. Johann Loetz Witwe, Klostermühle, around 1930s.
By Loetz Glass
Located in Verviers, BE
Foam glass vases. Loetz. Johann Loetz Witwe, Klostermühle, Around 1930s. Colorless glass with soda fusions in the intermediate layer, with rolled-in thread net of Green opal glass. ...
Art Glass
Foam glass Bowl. Johann Loetz Witwe, Klostermühle, around 1930s.
By Loetz Glass
Located in Verviers, BE
Foam glass Bowl. Johann Loetz Witwe, Klostermühle, around 1930s. Foam glass Bowl. Johann Loetz Witwe, Klostermühle, around 1930s. Colorless glass with soda fusions in the intermed...
Art Glass
Travertine Bowl With Lid
Located in Eindhoven, NB
Stunning, aesthetic, timeless are words that can be used to describe this elegant and modern travertine bowl from Kiwano. Expertly crafted and finished by hand, our travertine vases ...
Marble
Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
By Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted fox in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets around the fox figure...
Porcelain
Loetz Green Glass Vase with Alvin Sterling Silver Overlay
By Loetz Glass
Located in Miami, FL
A fine quality Art Nouveau style art glass vase, by Loetz the historic glass maker from the municipality of Austria featuring Alvin Sterling Silver overlay. Overlay in form of open and horizontal patterns with stylized leaves and scrollwork. A great find, handcrafted vase skillfully made using centuries old techniques of art glass works from the world-renowned maker, Loetz. Simply stunning this Art Nouveau glass vase with Alvin Sterling Silver overlay by Loetz would enhance any shelf, table, nightstand or countertop. This is a rare antique Loetz Green Glass...
Sterling Silver
Loetz Candia Papillon Art Nouveau Vase
By Loetz Glass
Located in Dallas, TX
Loetz Iridescent and oil spot Flared Neck Art glass Floriform Goose neck vase. Candia Papillon vase Austria Iridescent glass Unsigned Circa 1898 A...
Art Glass
Vintage Moser Gilt Glass Bowl with Green Cabochons
By Moser
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine vintage Bohemian art glass bowl. With large green cabochons around its circumference and rich gilt decoration. Attributed to Moser. ...
Glass
$1,050 / set
H 1.58 in Dm 5.4 in
Set of 2 New Old Stock Murano Opaline Glass Shell Bowl by Cenedese, 1960s
By Cenedese
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano opaline bowl set of 2 Design: Gino Cenedese Producer: Cenedese Vetri (marked underneath the vase) Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 196...
Murano Glass
$748Sale Price|25% Off
H 1.61 in W 1.38 in D 1.38 in
Loetz Austria 1900 Art Nouveau Miniature Cabinet Vase Blue Iridescent Art Glass
By Loetz Glass
Located in Miami, FL
Miniature glass vase designed by Loetz. Gorgeous and very beautiful antique miniature cabinet glass vase, created by Loetz. Made in Bohemia, Aust...
Art Glass
$2,840 / set
H 13.38 in W 3.75 in D 3.75 in
Loetz Bohemian Glass Art Nouveau Tulip Vases Pair Iridescent Green/Red c. 1880s
By Loetz Glass
Located in Glenford, NY
Rare early pair of Loetz Bohemian Glass Vases in a graceful Tulip Motif made by Johann Loetz Witwe in the 1880s. Green and rich red color with silver and blue iridescent highlights s...
Glass
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
Vase Loetz Widow Art Nouveau Phaenomen Gre Silver Overlay, circa 1900
By Loetz Glass
Located in Vienna, AT
Vase Loetz Widow Klostermuehle Bohemia Art Nouveau Made by Loetz, Klostermühle circa 1900 Decor: PHAENOMEN GRE & Gorgeous Silver Overlay This finest Loetz Art Nouveau ...
Silver
Vase Loetz Widow Klostermuehle Bohemia Art Nouveau Lemon Yellow Cytisus
By Loetz Glass
Located in Vienna, AT
Vase Loetz (Lötz) Widow Klostermuehle Bohemia Art Nouveau Made by Loetz, Klostermuehle (Bohemia), circa 1902 Decor: Lemon Yellow Cytisus It is a very interesting Loetz Art N...
Glass
Bohemia Loetz Art Nouveau Twisted Dephi Glass Vase 1899
By Loetz Glass
Located in Worcester Park, GB
A large Loetz Delphi pattern vase in green with a bulbus near spherical top with a large opening over a round base with a typical Loetz twist to the body. Finely iridised a classic L...
Art Glass
Johann Loetz Witwe Green Papillon Large Iridescent art Glass Bowl
By Loetz Glass
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stunning large Art Nouveau green Papillon iridescent art glass bowl by Johann Loetz Witwe in Klostermühle in southwestern Bohemia and dating from around 1900. The large Loetz...
Blown Glass
Loetz Art Nouveau Cream Jug and Sugar Bowl with Details of Irradiated Glass
By Loetz Glass
Located in Verviers, BE
Loetz Art Nouveau cream jug and sugar bowl with details of Irradiated glass. Beautifully decorated whit Irradiated glass. Rare to find with original condition. The piece is in...
Art Glass
Loetz Piped Rim Yellow Tango Art Glass Bowl by Michael Powolny
By Loetz Glass
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A striking and large Loetz yellow art glass hand-blown bowl piped with a black glass rim by renowned Austrian Sculptor, Ceramist and Designer Michael Powol...
Blown Glass
Sold
H 5 in W 5.25 in D 5.25 in
Antique Arts & Crafts Loetz Triple Handle Art Glass Basket, Circa 1920
By Loetz Glass
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Arts and Crafts basket by Loetz offers art glass construction with ruffled rim and three handles, unsigned, c1920 Measures - 5'' H x 5.25'' W x 5.25'' D.
Art Glass
Hans Bolek Vienna Loetz Bowl Opaline Glass with Salmon Pink, circa 1915
By Hans Bolek, Loetz Glass
Located in Vienna, AT
Loetz bowl opaline glass with salmon pink designed by Hans Bolek, (1890-1978): Bolek was one of the founders of the so-said 'Österreichischer Werkbund' in 1914, he was working toget...
Glass
Art Nouveau Bohemian Glass Bowl by Loetz, 1900, Klostermuele
By Loetz Glass
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Unique Art Nouveau bowl made by Joh. Loetz Witwe. The bowl is made of painted blown glass. The swinging line of lips and the soft Silhouette are typical of Bohemian Art Nouveau glass...
Art Glass