Johann Loetz Witwe

Place: Klostermühle

Born: 1836

Death: 1947

Biography:

Johann Loetz Witwe, also known as Joh. Loetz Witwe and Joh. Lötz Witwe, was an art glass manufacturer in Klostermühle (Klášterský Mlýn, now part of Rejštejn) in southwestern Bohemia, Austria-Hungary and then Czechoslovakia. The factory was founded in 1836 by Johann Eisner and bought up in 1840 by the smelter Johann Loetz, whose widow ran the works under the name 'Johann Loetz Witwe'. In 1879, Susanne transferred the company to Maximilian von Spaun, the son of her daughter Karoline. One year later, von Spaun hired Eduard Prochaska and the two of them modernized the factory and introduced new, innovative techniques. Loetz Witwe's works are among the most outstanding examples of Art Nouveau. The factory had previously been equipped with a significant grinding shop. It was here that heavily cut crystal and cut-through enameled flashing glass were produced. Loetz Witwe's glassware is characterized by its high quality and innovative designs, which often featured iridescent and opalescent effects. The factory closed in 1947.