In the last decade, Czech brand Lasvit has taken Bohemia’s dazzling glassware heritage to new heights. We speak to Lasvit’s founder, Leon Jakimič, to find out how he’s changing the history of glass craft.
Bohemian Rhapsody
During Europe’s Renaissance, Bohemia—the largest, westernmost region in what is today the Czech Republic—became famous for its beautiful, decorative glassware.
Home to copious amounts of minerals such as limestone and silica, Bohemia developed a strong glass production industry, and its glass workers discovered that by combing potash with chalk, they could create a clear, colourless glass that was sturdier and of higher quality than glass made in Italy. The term “Bohemian crystal” was coined sometime in the 16th century to distinguish this superior “crystalline” glass—which, unlike regular glass, is assumed to contain no lead—from glass produced in other parts of the world.
By the 19th century, there were many expert glass craftsmen in Bohemia and the region developed a glassmaking school system that maintained rigorous traditional standards while exploring new techniques. Even today, glass from the Czech Republic is regarded as among the best in the world.
In 2007, Leon Jakimič who was born in the Czech city of Liberec and is presently living in Hong Kong, envisioned a dynamic, design-driven company that would celebrate the glassmaking heritage of his ancestors with cutting-edge designs and applications. Jakimič’s vision became a reality when he founded Lasvit, a company that designs and manufactures bespoke glass lighting, sculptures, installations and artwork.
Combining authentic Bohemian glass craft with innovative technologies, Lasvit quickly established itself as the industry leader in hand-blown Bohemian glass. It now has an estimated 350 employees across 15 offices in Europe, the US, the Middle East, Russia and Asia, and its unique works of glass art adorn private residences, performance venues, high-end boutiques, casinos and luxurious hotels worldwide.
“Authenticity and luxury go hand in hand,” says Jakimič, which is why he insists on manufacturing all of Lasvit’s glass in the Czech Republic. Production is concentrated in northern Bohemia, where the glassmaking trade has been passed down from generation to generation, and where Lasvit also has its headquarters. “All of our raw materials are sourced only in the Czech Republic,” he explains. “Each glassmaking plant has its own original recipe for glass, consisting of a unique combination of all the ingredients, which it keeps secret. Mixing raw materials such as silica sand, soda ash, limestone and potassium carbonate creates a honey-like mass, also known as the ‘glass mixture’, which stands by the birth of each breathtaking glass installation and collection by Lasvit.”
