Shape Study - Kralik vs. Loetz
A Classic Decor and Design Shift Study
by Craig Orkney
A Decor Shift is defined for the purposes of this website as the intentional production of a decor by one company, with the desired end result being the creation of a
product which bears a strong resemblance to a competitors decor.
A Design Shift is defined as the intentional production of an item in a physical
shape which closely resembles a competitors product.
Decor Shifts are more commonly found than Design Shifts. The example this study centers around is fairly unique,
in that we find a Decor Shift and a Design Shift combined in a single competitive product.
Both Decor Shifting and Design Shifting were commonplace in Bohemian / Czech glass production, and the concept was expanded to include competitive national markets, such as English glass production.
This study is likely to be one of the more controversial
pages on this website. It is a subject which was examined for an extended period of time prior to our
reaching the conclusion.
The conclusion: Kralik produced a decor which in great part closely resembles the "Phänomen Genre 6893" decor by Loetz.
Kralik's interpretation of the decor appears to be so good, that up until now, most of the Kralik examples have been sold as Loetz.
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This first images below are of known examples of the Loetz decor known as "Phänomen Genre 6893". The examples shown are on a Loetz shape.
I feel it is important to point out, that the known examples by Loetz in this decor and shape have a bulbous body which
has alternating channels running the length of the body. The similar Kralik shape has Cabochon shaped indents spaced
regularly around the bulbous portion of the body. This shape is seen in the second group of images. It is also important to note the length of the neck of the vase in relationship
to the height of the body of the vase. Loetz produced this decor on a wide variety of shapes. Lastly, the Kralik version of this decor is currently only known to be found on a red ground, while the Loetz version is found on several different grounds.
For the purpose of this study, we are concentrating on this shape from Loetz.
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The next set of images show examples of the decor we have attributed to Kralik.
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The following examples are the same Kralik shape as shown directly above, with the exception that they are executed in known Kralik Decors.
Similar decors are not known to have been produced by Loetz on this shape.
The example on the right does have a neck length relative to the body height that is more similar to the Loetz shape.
The Cabochons on the body of these examples are quite distinct, unlike any known Loetz example of this shape.
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The next example shows a Kralik "Glatt Silberiris" and a "6893" decor shift by Kralik, to the left and right of a known Loetz example of "Phänomen Genre 6893".
In this comparison both the similarities and distinct differences between the Kralik and Loetz shapes are apparent.
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This example shows an unusual and unique piece, seen in what may be an early attempt by Kralik to mimic the decor and shape.
The shape is the same as the "6893" decor shift examples.
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The following images are a couple of examples which may represent either early attempts to produce the decor, or failed attempts.
The first example is a vase on display at the Passau in a Kralik case.
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The examples shown in this last image are some close-up comparisons of the the surface of some Loetz and Kralik examples. It is also notable that the Kralik Decor Shift
has only been found on a red ground, where the Loetz version is found on several different colors.
Please visit the Kralik and Loetz pages for examples of this decor by both houses.
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