Set of four zoomorphic stones

Coloured glass, fused in a mould, Owl (34 × 17), Fish (40 × 15 cm), Goat (64 × 23 cm) – signed and dated S. Libenský J. Brychtová 1958–1988 and Antelope (37 × 27 cm), made in the Železný Brod glassworks, made around 1988, recently placed into a cement frame (100 × 71 cm) (Zí)

literature
Klasová M., Libenský Brychtová, Gallery, Praha, 2002, p. 42–43 – text and black and white period photographs
Bruselský sen, catalog, GHMP Praha, 2008, p. 120–121 – text and period photographs

Stanislav Libenský (1921–2002) – probably the most important Czech glass artist and teacher of the 2nd half of the 20th century. After studying at the glassmaking schools in Nový Bor and Železný Brod, he graduated from the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague. In 1945, he returned to the Professional Glassmaking School in Nový Brod, where he led the department of glass drawing and etching. In 1954, Libenský began working as the Director of the Glassmaking Secondary Decorative Arts School in Železný Brod. In this capacity, he continued in the work of Jaroslav Brychta, a member of the teaching staff and later the Director of the school. Jaroslav Brychta was the first Czech to use the forgotten technique of fusing glass in a mould for artistic usage. His daughter, Jaroslava Brychtová, learned this technique from him. 
Jaroslava Brychtová (1924) graduated from the studio of prof. Štipl at the AAAD in Prague and later also from the Sculpture Studio of prof. Lauda at Prague’s AFA. She met director Stanislav Libenský in the glassmaking school in Železný Brod, with whom she realized one of his drawings using the technique of fused glass. This was the beginning of Stanislav Libenský’s collaboration with Jaroslava Brychtová, leading to the creation of the famous Head-bowl (1955).

One of the earliest common works of Stanislav Libenský and Jaroslava Brychtová was a series of eight reliefs for Hotel Jalta on Wenceslas Square in Prague (1957). Following their success with fused sculptures, the authors used this method for the first time to create a large-scale work – the individual pieces measure 80 centimeters. This was followed by the sculpture Tall head, for which they effectively used the glass’s transparency when they created it. Here, light enters through a soft wall into the space of the sculpture, which is shaped as a negative relief. The uneven strength of the glass influences the intensity of the light passing through and thus the richness of the coloring of the glass as well. 
They used the same principle of a negative relief when they created the famous zoomorphic stones for EXPO 58 in Brussels, for which they won the highest prize – the Grand Prix. To create the zoomorphic stones, the pair were inspired by the “prehistorically” stylized animals that were popular at the time thanks to the discovery of the prehistoric drawings in the Altamira and Lascaux caves. The authors shaped their own reliefs into irregular “stones” that they fused in various colors. An impressive mosaic of 19 stones was created through the skillful setting of the stones next to one another. To install it, they placed it onto a backlit concrete board. The viewer thus perceived the animals as emerging from the bright board. 
The set of four zoomorphic animals on offer was created around the year 1988 in the Železný Brod glassworks in original moulds. They have recently been placed into a concrete frame that evokes the original relief wall.