It is now more than two weeks since I attended this wonderful event. Interested readers may perhaps think that when I was at Cambridge, someone slipped into my tea some mushrooms or something or paid me to write something nice because the only thing I could be critical about is nothing to do with glass, but geography, the fact that Cambridge Glass Fair is not in Cambridge at all, but in some pretty village a few miles from the famous university town!
The impressive access to Chilford Hall, is along a narrow lane lined with hedges. This lead to the entrance, which is guarded by two fierce stone lions. This scene evoked in me the atmosphere of "good old England", the old fashioned image of England we in the Czech Republic are familiar with, from books and black and white films. I thought to myself, now I'm getting nervous. I feel that in such an environment it may be expected that I would walk slowly and gracefully, speaking carefully in a low polite voice about serious and cultural matters. But thankfully this was not the case, I was soon to be relaxing, seeing plenty of glass and meeting many collectors.
Once inside the glass Fair hall lobby, I'm immediately standing in front of amazing glass from the Czech Republic. My eyes water with emotion and happiness, like my aunt Boženka watching the South American telenovela when Rosalinda finally replied "yes I will!" after her suitor Jose-Antonio had asked her 384 times. Seeing the two display cases full of perfectly prepared, finest quality Czechoslovakian glass, exhibited as "Art of an Altered State: United Glass Design 1958 - 1992," prepared by collectors and dealers Nigel Benson and Danny Walker filled me with emotion in the same way as my aunt watching the climax of her favourite soap opera!
Once inside the glass Fair hall lobby, I'm immediately standing in front of amazing glass from the Czech Republic. My eyes water with emotion and happiness, like my aunt Boženka watching the South American telenovela when Rosalinda finally replied "yes I will!" after her suitor Jose-Antonio had asked her 384 times. Seeing the two display cases full of perfectly prepared, finest quality Czechoslovakian glass, exhibited as "Art of an Altered State: United Glass Design 1958 - 1992," prepared by collectors and dealers Nigel Benson and Danny Walker filled me with emotion in the same way as my aunt watching the climax of her favourite soap opera!
The powerful representation of Czech glass, including hand made and limited edition pieces by Libensky, Pavel Hlava, Josef Svarc, Karel Wunch and others, made me think about my homeland. I am very proud that my small, beautiful country out there far beyond the Channel, hidden in the middle of the Continent, two days journey away by car at least, is so swiftly brought so close together, by such a dispaly of artistry, that makes Czechia feel so close by I could almost touch it with my hand through the glass. I could almost hear our National Anthem!
"Over inclines are waters streaming,
On the same hills blue forests dreaming....."
On the same hills blue forests dreaming....."
I am so filled with emotion that I have to find an excuse, "Please excuse me, I have to replace the battery in the camera...." and I quickly disappear into the carpark for a few minutes to compose myself. Big guys crying with emotion in public is a bit embarrassing and certainly not the thing to do in England!
Frantisek Vízner used to say "it does not happen in the lives of everyone," feeling fortuante that that young designers and artists could perpetually "explore" his designs indefinitely and apprecate his work. Seeing the fantastic display at Cambridge I was reminded of his comment as I watched the reaction of visitors to the display cases, as young and old peered at the pieces. I could see how our glass heritage, how modern artistic glass design from Czechia naturally appeals to so many people. What more could a fan of Czechoslovakian glass can ask for than to see such things happen?
Frantisek Vízner used to say "it does not happen in the lives of everyone," feeling fortuante that that young designers and artists could perpetually "explore" his designs indefinitely and apprecate his work. Seeing the fantastic display at Cambridge I was reminded of his comment as I watched the reaction of visitors to the display cases, as young and old peered at the pieces. I could see how our glass heritage, how modern artistic glass design from Czechia naturally appeals to so many people. What more could a fan of Czechoslovakian glass can ask for than to see such things happen?
Co-organiser of the Czech glass exhibition Nigel Benson (writer, collector and dealer) spoke to me about how he noticed Czech glass beginning to appear on the collecting market in the UK many years ago. He quickly discovered the incredible scope and breadth, the glass has to offer to the collector.
He said: "A collector looking at Czech glass could collect antique, vintage or new, pressed, cut, or blown, or collect individual authors, glassworks, or to focus only on the glass figurines, glass vases and souvenir spa glass, there is so much Czech glass worthy of interest."
The British see it! I wish this appreciated as much at home ....
He said: "A collector looking at Czech glass could collect antique, vintage or new, pressed, cut, or blown, or collect individual authors, glassworks, or to focus only on the glass figurines, glass vases and souvenir spa glass, there is so much Czech glass worthy of interest."
The British see it! I wish this appreciated as much at home ....
The exhibition Hall is well adapted and organised, with decorative ceiling lights, stalls offering polished glass goods of all kinds, all properly identified by specialists who run each stall. A separate room is reserved for contemporary glass, often presented by the artists themselves, the room also included a blowing display by young artist Alastair Malcom from Stourbridge, and last but not least is the amazing big fair restaurant, in an ancient looking barn, where over coffee we could hear and see a beautiful lady playing traditional harp music.
Heavenly.
Well judge for yourself, but I surely felt for a time I had entered glass paradise?
Heavenly.
Well judge for yourself, but I surely felt for a time I had entered glass paradise?
One English colleague said: "This is much better than a museum. Not only see
rare pieces up close, you can look and touch them, you also get professional
and insider information, and what's more, if you like it, you can buy it!"
I agreed, and bought two significant pieces five mintues later - a vase and
rose sculpture by Prof. Cerny. Both in perfect condition, signed, even with the
export label "Art Czechoslovakia."Putting them under my arm, I thought to myself, you will go home soon, my girls
... Seeing all the glass there in the rooms made me think about glass a lot. Glass as an amazing material. Beautiful in itself and in addition, it allows us to see through it, performing perfectly, if undamaged, for centuries.
rare pieces up close, you can look and touch them, you also get professional
and insider information, and what's more, if you like it, you can buy it!"
I agreed, and bought two significant pieces five mintues later - a vase and
rose sculpture by Prof. Cerny. Both in perfect condition, signed, even with the
export label "Art Czechoslovakia."Putting them under my arm, I thought to myself, you will go home soon, my girls
... Seeing all the glass there in the rooms made me think about glass a lot. Glass as an amazing material. Beautiful in itself and in addition, it allows us to see through it, performing perfectly, if undamaged, for centuries.
The second thing that came to Cambridge Glass Fair I was thrilled and moved by was the people. Friends, smiles and handshakes, shorter or longer debates, old friends and newly acquired friends, casual meetings and established contacts. Glass and people who care about glass. That is what the rooms were filled with.
If everyone in the world met each other through glass, as people do at the Cambridge Glass Fair, each day would be a great feast, a happy feast for everyone.
Such a feast I had in Cambridge.
(Well actually in the pretty village of Linton not too far from Cambridge).
If everyone in the world met each other through glass, as people do at the Cambridge Glass Fair, each day would be a great feast, a happy feast for everyone.
Such a feast I had in Cambridge.
(Well actually in the pretty village of Linton not too far from Cambridge).
Thank you England!
I look forward to next fair by the same organisers again, this time in Solihull at the famous motorcycle museum there in November, when it has a whole day for glass and the motorbikes have to move over!
Jindrich Parik
(Warm thanks for English translation to Robert Bevan-Jones, Skrdlovice glass collector and researcher and expert)
Třetí den na Ostrově - Cambridge Glass Fair
Trápím se tím už přes dva týdny. Jak to napsat, aby to neznělo moc nadšeně a okouzleně a čtenář nenabyl dojmu, že mě v té Cambridge buď podplatili, nebo mi přimíchali do čaje nějaké ty houbičky. Ale po vší té námaze mě napadá jediné, co bych mohl vytknout, tedy skutečnost, že Cambridge Glass Fair vůbec není v Cambridge, ale v jakési vísce poblíž tohoto slavného univerzitního města
Impozantní příjezd po úzké cestě lemované živým plotem, vjezd střežen dvojicí kamenných lvů ve mě vyvolává tu atmosféru „staré dobré Anglie“, kterou známe z knížek nebo černobílých filmů. Začínám mít trému. Mám pocit, že se v takovém prostředí očekává, že budu kráčet zvolna a důstojně, mluvit tichým a nevzrušeným hlasem a navíc spisovně a idiomaticky.
A tak najednou stojím ve vstupní hale a oči mi vlhnou tak sladkým dojetím a štěstím, asi jako mé tetičce Božence, když v 384tém díle jihoamerické telenovely se Jose-Antonio konečně vyslovil a Rosalinda mu odpověděla „ano“.
Vítají mě dvě skvěle upravené vitríny plné toho nejlepšího z československého skla, neprodejní výstava „Art of an Altered State: Czech glass design 1958 – 1992“ pánů Nigela Bensona a Dannyho Walkera. V tak mocném zastoupení velkých Čechů ze mě tréma rázem opadá, rostu, sílím, mohutním a jsem velmi pyšný na tu svoji malou, krásnou vlast tam daleko za Kanálem, uprostřed Kontinentu, vzdálenou dva dny svižné jízdy a přesto najednou tak blízkou, vlastně na dosah ruky.
Zašumí bory po skalinách a v sadě zaskví se jara květ.
Vymlouvám se, že musím vyměnit baterii ve fotoaparátu a mizím na parkoviště, protože velcí chlapi dojetím nebrečí a už vůbec ne v Anglii.
František Vízner říkával „nestane se to v životě každému“ a myslel tím, to, že si naši mladí designéři a výtvarníci jej „našli“ obdivovali jeho design, vážili si ho a ctili jej.
Zašumí bory po skalinách a v sadě zaskví se jara květ.
Vymlouvám se, že musím vyměnit baterii ve fotoaparátu a mizím na parkoviště, protože velcí chlapi dojetím nebrečí a už vůbec ne v Anglii.
František Vízner říkával „nestane se to v životě každému“ a myslel tím, to, že si naši mladí designéři a výtvarníci jej „našli“ obdivovali jeho design, vážili si ho a ctili jej.
Mě se na Cambridge Glass Fair přihodilo něco velmi podobného, nikoliv však mojí zásluhou. Podle reakcí návštěvníků u vitrín vidím, jak je naše sklo oslovuje, líbí se jim.
Co víc si fanoušek československého skla může přát?
Co víc si fanoušek československého skla může přát?
Pan Nigel mě později vysvětlil, jak naše sklo objevil, jak zjistil ten neuvěřitelný rozsah a šíři, kterou sběrateli může nabídnout.
Říkal: „Můžeš sbírat sklo staré nebo nové, lisované, broušené nebo hutní, sbírat jednotlivé autory, sklárny, orientovat se jen na skleněné figurky, vázičky nebo upomínkové sklo, to všechno tam je".
A Britové to vidí!
Kéž by si toho všimli i u nás doma….
Říkal: „Můžeš sbírat sklo staré nebo nové, lisované, broušené nebo hutní, sbírat jednotlivé autory, sklárny, orientovat se jen na skleněné figurky, vázičky nebo upomínkové sklo, to všechno tam je".
A Britové to vidí!
Kéž by si toho všimli i u nás doma….
Veletržní sál je skvěle upraven, strop vyzdoben světelnými řetězy, nabízené zboží vyleštěno a správně zatříděno, zvláštní místnost je vyhrazena současnému sklu a v neposlední řadě úžasná je i velká veletržní restaurace, kde ke kávě nám hraje krásná dáma na harfu.
No posuďte sami, nedostal jsem se do sklářského ráje?
No posuďte sami, nedostal jsem se do sklářského ráje?
Jeden anglický kolega říkal: „Tohle je lepší než muzeum. Předměty vidíš zblízka, můžeš se jich dotknout a prohlédnout si je, získáš odborné a zasvěcené informace a co víc, když se ti to líbí, můžeš si to koupit“. Souhlasím a kupuji si dva autorské objekty - vázu a růži od Prof. Jana Černého. V perfektním stavu, signované, ještě s nálepkou exportéra Art Czechoslovakia. Pojedete domů, holky moje...
Sklo je úžasný materiál. Samo o sobě krásné a navíc, umožňuje vidět skrz.
A to je druhá věc, která mě na Cambridge Glass Fair nadchla i dojala:
Lidé. Přátelé. Úsměvy a stisky rukou, kratší nebo delší debaty, staří známí i nově získaná přátelství. Nenucené a nevynucované.
Kdyby se všichni lidé na světě na sebe dívali skrze sklo, jako lidé na Cambridge Glass Fair, byl by každý jeden den velký svátek, svátek pro každého.
Takový jako jsem zažil já v Cambridge.
Teda vlastně ve vesničce Linton u Cambridge.
Děkuji a těším se na příští veletrh v Solihulu!
Jindra Pařík 13.10. 2011
A to je druhá věc, která mě na Cambridge Glass Fair nadchla i dojala:
Lidé. Přátelé. Úsměvy a stisky rukou, kratší nebo delší debaty, staří známí i nově získaná přátelství. Nenucené a nevynucované.
Kdyby se všichni lidé na světě na sebe dívali skrze sklo, jako lidé na Cambridge Glass Fair, byl by každý jeden den velký svátek, svátek pro každého.
Takový jako jsem zažil já v Cambridge.
Teda vlastně ve vesničce Linton u Cambridge.
Děkuji a těším se na příští veletrh v Solihulu!
Jindra Pařík 13.10. 2011
