While the history of man-made glass can be traced back to 3500 B.C., it wasn’t until about 1000 A.D. that the glass-making industry really started to take off. Today, the Czech Republic is well-known for its high-quality glass, but the history of glass making in this country goes back a long way. While there is evidence that the Celts that inhabited the area were making glass 2,000 years ago, it was during the 1200s that Czech glass became a leader in the industry.
The natural resources in Ore, Jizera, the Lusatian Mountains, the Giant Mountains, the Forest Maintains and Moravia in the northern part of the country provided everything glass makers needed to thrive. There were plenty of trees to use as fuel for the furnaces. The ashes from the furnaces were mixed with chalk (limestone) and silica (sand and quartz) and melted to make glass. The Bohemians weren’t the only people making glass in Europe at this time, though. In Italy and Germany the glass-making industry was prospering, too. What made Czech glass special was the potash (ashes from the furnace) that they used.
The Czechs discovered that by adding the ashes to the glass making process the glass was clearer than the glass made in other countries. This also made the glass more stable. That meant is was more durable so things like windows and goblets and vases would not break as easily as those made without potash. This made it more desirable. It was also used to make jewelry, ornaments and chandeliers.
Today, the Czech Republic is still an industry leader when it comes to glass. It is common to see brightly colored glass and intricately carved items as well as hand painted glass and sculptural items from the Czech Republic.
