Pair of Loetz vases Marie Kirschner PG 377 ca. 1900

Marie Kirschner began her artistic journey studying painting in Prague, Vienna, and Paris. However, over time, her focus shifted toward the realm of arts and crafts. In the 1890s, she made several visits to Klostermühle, where her interest in glass design blossomed. Initially, Kirschner decorated Loetz glass pieces with intricate paintings, but she soon transitioned to creating her own original glass designs. It is believed that her first designs emerged around 1897 or 1898.
Drawing inspiration from antique, East Asian, and Central European vessel forms, Kirschner developed a distinctive and personal style. Her vase designs were meticulously crafted to harmonize aesthetically with the flowers they were intended to display, including lilacs, tulips, asters, and roses. Her designs are notable for their simple geometric and stereometric shapes, which are contrasted with unique, unconventional handles. The handles often break up the contours of the vessels, adding a dynamic, organic quality. On the vases presented here, the C-shaped handles were skillfully pulled from the glass mass, creating an elegant, flowing appearance.
The vases feature the striking Phänomen Genre 377 decor, also labeled as “Lava”, which debuted at the Paris World Exhibition in 1900. This innovative design demonstrated a revival and enhancement of traditional glassmaking techniques, adapted to contemporary technical advancements. The process involved immersing the hot glasswork into ice-cold water, creating a network of cracks that were subsequently melted to form the final surface. The result was an organic, lava-like texture that was both visually and tactilely distinct from conventional decorative styles.