Harrach Cordé

The Harrach Glassworks were known to respond quickly to stylistic changes in the market. The capabilities of the company reached to a level which made Harrach exclusive. Harrach was not only able to pick up new styles and technologies. The Harrach glasswork elaborated them. Sometimes it is even hard to distinguish Harrach productions from the original glass which inspired the Bohemian glasshouse. The quality of the glass was outstanding and is much appreciated by collectors. It is interesting to note that many of the different groups and types of Harrach glass were produced in low numbers. Probably this is a result of the ever fast response to market changes and a sign of the large diversification in the production.
In the Art Nouveau period we find quite many of these groups of low production numbers. Tiffany Pfau (copies and variants of Luis Comfort Tiffany glass with combed glass threads), the Moravia series (clear glass with colored glass combed to arcs) and Pompeja (mottled glass with enamel decoration) belong to these groups.
Another of these series of low production numbers was called Cordé (French for cord, string). Introduced at the Leipzig Spring Fair in 1902 it comprises opal glass with an irregular web of dark or yellow green or orange threads, molded into the glass. The glass could be additionally decorated with enamel painting or metallic (galvanic?) overlays. A few examples are on display at the Museum of Glass in Harrachov. Harrach Cordé glass is hard to find, even the Passau Glass Museum with its huge collection does not show a single example.
The 12” tall, four handled vase with orange-brown threads and colorful enameling survived the more than 100 years in excellent condition. Even the gilding is nearly untouched. It is a lovely decoration and a great addition to my collection of Art Nouveau Bohemian glass. Actually I was looking for about ten years to finally get one example of Harrach Cordé.
As a reference see to image no. 368 in Jan Mergl's book "From Neuwelt to the Whole World".