HISTORY OF THE GLASSWORKS

1796 — 1821

Founded

  • The first master glassblower Ferdinand Čapek

1844–1821

Crystal chandeliers

  • The glassworks was rented by master glassblower Josef Hofman and managed by his brother Antonín
    Converted to the production of white crystal hollow glass
    Production of glass chandeliers, a preserved crystal chandelier in the Church of the Annunciation in nearby Bohdanec

1844–1914

Rückl family

  • Master glassblower Ignác Rückl, later his son Josef and then Antonie and Václav
    Glass cutting introduced in the glassworks
    In 1897 the factory switched from direct heating with wood to the production of gas from wood
    Just before the war, a new furnace was built in the glassworks

1918–1914

First World War

  • The Glassworks is closed

1918–1927

Strike

  • Hut closed due to strike over low wages and problems among tenants.
    The glassworks is rented by Čeněk František Císař.

1945–1932

Significant owner C. F. Císař

  • Čeněk František Císař became the owner of the glassworks in 1932
    The glassworks switched to coal gas production
    Glass was mainly exported to England, Germany and America
    Leaded crystal for cutting and cheaper soda-lime glass were produced
    Čeněk František Císař materially and financially supported the illegal group RU-DA

1945

False accusation

  • In 1945 the glassworks was nationalized on the basis of Benes’ decrees.
    Čeněk František Císař was accused of collaboration with the Germans. As a result of this fact, he committed suicide on 15 November 1945. The Tasice glassworks including all his other property was confiscated in February 1948 (3 years after his death).

1957–1945

Nationalization

  • The glassworks was nationalized and incorporated into the Bohemia
    In 1947 the glassworks produced ten large vases for the presidential palace in Mexico
    Orders for the Soviet Union, production of lead crystal and hollow glass

1957–1989

Part of the Kavalier glassworks

  • The glassworks was transferred to the Kavalier glassworks in Sázava
    Production of cooking and laboratory glassware
    Between 1989 and 1991 owned by the Kavalier glassworks

1990

Cultural monument

  • In 1990 the glassworks was declared a cultural monument protected by the state

1991–1995

Restitution and new owner

  • In 1991, the heirs of the Císař family applied for restitution of the glassworks, the restitution proceedings were terminated only in 1995 with a negative decision of the courts; only some agricultural properties were returned to the heirs of the former owner on the basis of another restitution law
    Kavalier Glassworks sells the glassworks to the artist Petr Moidl, before the restitution proceedings with the heirs of the Císař family are completed
    The glassworks produces stained glass and coloured art glass
    The glassworks is named Hut’ Jakub after the main character of the TV series Sons and Daughters of Jakub the Glassmaker, which was filmed in the glassworks in 1985

1995–1996

Closing

  • Glassworks closed due to low sales due to market saturation with plastic products and cheap glass from China

1996–2002

Final shutdown

  • The defunct and closed glassworks was bought by Ing. Josef Dostál
    He built a new furnace and restarted production
    Mainly utility, laboratory and art glass
    Final closure of operations on 15 April 2002

2002–2004

Audition procedure

  • Glassworks offered in bankruptcy newspapers, meanwhile the monument fell into disrepair

2004–2010

The origin of the open-air museum

  • The glassworks was bought by businessman Luboš Pipa
    The monument was in a dilapidated state
    Luboš Pipa spent almost all of his money and with the financial help of the Emergency Fund of the Ministry of Culture and the Vysočina Region Fund he built an open-air museum in the glassworks

2012–2010

Glassworks for sale

  • The glassworks has been offered by a real estate agency for CZK 10.5 million since August 2010
    Due to the large investment in the monument, which is protected by the state and must be preserved, there is very little interest from buyers for this glass museum, so the glassworks continues to deteriorate
  • At the same time, a group of volunteers is taking care of the glassworks and trying to preserve the glass museum

31.7.2012

The current owner

  • The glassworks passed from the ownership of Mr Pipa to the current owner.
    The operation of the glass museum is still preserved, the new owner continues the care of the previous owner, to maintain the valuable cultural technical monument and gradually develop its potential

2014 .1.10

NCM

  • The glassworks was declared a National Cultural Monument of the Czech Republic at the proposal of the owner

2016

The glassworks is alive

  • Glass production was restored in the glassworks. Cooperation with the glass artist Zdeněk Kunec and other glass artists was established
    Since 2016, various events related to glass production and exhibitions of glass works have been organized

2021 — 2020

Intermittent services

  • The glassworks was forcibly closed for months in 2020 and again in 2021 due to the government’s COVID-19 measures
    Tasice Glassworks became one of the founding members of the Association of Non-State Open Monuments (ANOPA) in 2021

FROM 2022 — PRESENT

Resumption of services

    • Restoration of the glass museum and demonstration of glass production