Czech glass bead ornaments

Glass beads from Bohemia

Cloth has been manufactured in the village of Poniklá in north Bohemia since the Middle Ages. However, over the course of time local manufactories began specialising in producing glass beads because they earned more money for them. In the early 20th century, more than 400 families made their living by making glass beads and fashion jewellery production in Poniklá and its surroundings. A skilful glass-bead maker would manage to produce up to three and a half thousand beads of various shapes – from elongated and pear-shaped to round, both small and fairly big, from clear, coloured, smooth and indented glass. The beads were formerly used to manufacture necklaces, brooches and hat needles, as well as earrings and to decorate folk and theatre costumes. It was only in the first half of the 20th century that most of the production moved to festive ornaments.

How was the first ornament created?

Who was the first artisan to take a small wire, thread glass beads on it and make the first Christmas ornament? We will never know… But it is more than one hundred years since glass beads were thread onto wires, shaped to create stars, figures or colourful and glittering animals. Glass beads not only began to be blown, but also silver-coated, painted, cut and moulded to take on a great variety of shapes. Entire families would take part in the work, and from simple shapes the glass-bead makers gradually progressed towards more complex inventions. Almost everything that you can think of and perfect for Christmas and holidays is made from glass beads today.

Handmade production continues in the 21st century

The ornaments have been manufactured in Poniklá in the foothills of the Giant Mountains to this day in the same manner as long ago, but the classic patterns, mainly Christmas stars and snowflakes, continue to be the most popular, even more than one hundred years later. The manufactory in Poniklá can produce up to 150 thousand such ornaments, based on 20 thousand patterns, every year. The ornaments are not the cheapest, but one need only consider the fact that every item is a handcrafted original. And how are the ornaments made today? Rautis from Poniklá distributes new glass, possibly blowing moulds, to the blowers once a month and assigns their required production needs to them. Finished glass beads, together with the necessary material, are then picked up by cutters and threaders. They then create those magical items, which are then brought back to the company to be packaged and distributed. So, the production process is very similar to long-defunct manufactories, as people do not go to work in a factory but the work goes to them – everyone does what they can do at home.

Glass beads as cultural heritage

The production process and production itself are unique to such a degree that the glass bead ornaments in the village of Poniklá have now been inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List (as of December 2020).

You can also visit this place to admire this once nearly-lost craft. As the last producer of glass decorations in Poniklá, Rautis offers a one-stop demonstration of handmade production of Christmas glass bead decorations. In addition, you can try your own imagination and dexterity in the creative workshop, or get some of the DIY kits in the company shop in Poniklá or from the www.rautis.cz online store to create fragile ornaments in the comfort of your home.