MURRINE-MILLEFIORI VASE – WILHELM KRALIK SOHNE
By the time of his death, Wilhelm Kralik (1806-1877) had no less than seven glassworks to his name, all operating under the name Meyr’s Neffe. During his lifetime Kralik was responsible for developing techniques for glass production that would be used for years to come. Before his passing the glassworks were dispersed amongst his four sons. The final section of his works was closed in the 1940s with the outbreak of war.
The Kralik glassworks may have been the largest volume producer of Bohemian Art Glass in the early 20th century. Documents have been lost over time, and many of his pieces were produced without a signature, so there was likely more production that we are aware. His top level of glass would rival Loetz (it is not uncommon for Kralik to be sold as Loetz, as Loetz fetches a higher dollar), but he also had a full range of products.
This particular vase was produced using the Murrine and Millefiori techniques. Murrine refers to colored patterns or images in glass designed by layering different colors around a core and stretching it onto a rod. Millefiori takes a Murrine rod and pulls it thin, then cuts it into smaller sections where the design is visible.