Moser Magic
The Elusive Fact November 10th, 2009Moser glass is the legacy of Ludwig Moser, a painter and engraver from the Czech Republic, then called Bohemia. Most famous for founding a glassworks in 1857, Moser developed a formula for manufacturing glass as brilliant as lead crystal, but without using lead. Over the years, the firm employed such artists as Josef Hoffman to create its vases, tablewares, and “glass sets.”
Early on, Moser gained worldwide recognition for designing special glasses for different types of wine and liqueurs. The 1907 “Royal” pattern (diamond cut with a gold rim and faceted stem) got its name after Edward VII ordered a complete set. The “Majarani” (flute-shaped goblets with delicate floral engraving) was commissioned in 1895 by the Majarajah of Navancore for his wife. Our favorite drinking set, the fabulously modern “Bar,” was designed by Rudolf Eischler in 1934, and features the most pleasing—and pleasingly heavy—double old-fashioned glass we’ve ever held.
In addition to clear, most Moser designs come in six transparent colors—Alexandrite, Aquamarine, Beryl, Eldor, Rosaline, and Topaz—achieved by melting noble earths and metal oxides into the glass. Custom darker shades, including Dark Violet and Smoke, may also be ordered.
During World War II, the Germans took over the factory, but the remaining workers deliberately altered the formulas so that the windows on German tanks would explode while at the front. When the communists invaded Czechoslovakia, Moser was one of the few firms granted independent operation by the government. Since the transition to a free market, the firm has continued to flourish, producing designs as modern—and beautiful—as ever.
Pictured above, the Moser “Bar” bowl in aquamarine from Lush Life on TAIGAN.
Elusive Find: Oyster Roll
