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Between the World Wars, the globe was buzzing with creativity, but in Czechoslovakia it was booming. In 1918 Czechoslovakia became an independent state for the first time, free from the rule of the Austro-Hungarian empire, and the people were ready to express it. They soaked up the International style of Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, and Adolf Loos, but took it even further. The designs of the 1920s and especially the 1930s were very progressive, experimental, even edgy. As Czech design expert Barton Quillen of Prague Kolektiv says, "With a healthy manufacturing base, incredibly strong trade skills, state-of-the art-materials, and a willingness to take risks, all the ingredients were there for design to flourish." New on the global design scene, the Czechs had something to prove, not just to the world's avant-garde, but to themselves after years of Habsburg domination. In our slideshow you will recognize the art deco, cubist, moderne, and Bauhaus influences that were seen around the world, but with a uniquely charged Czech prospective.
Just as the Czechs were hitting their stride in the late 1930s, along came Hitler. German troops annexed the country through throughout World War II, and the growing ingenuity was cut off at the knees. But even when the war was over, the muzzle on expression remained. In 1948, Czechoslovakia became a communist state, and creativity had new rules. All designs were decided by state committees, and "edgy" was no longer a winning quality. However, a culture this innovative, this skilled, can't be stopped entirely. The styles of the 1950s and '60s may have taken a more refined, formulaic approach, but that didn't make them dull. In the 1958 Brussels Expo, Czech pieces won 27 gold metals. Czech design of this time was still unique to the rest of the world. Communist rule may have limited the Czechs' view of global design, but it made them look within.
If you adore art deco, functionalist, or mid century modern pieces, the Czech perspective will be a unique addition to your collection. See our slideshow for great examples of Czech design or consider buying the items for sale.