In the lexicon of 20th-century Czech art glass, few names resonate with as much quiet ingenuity as František Vízner. Crafted in 1962 at the legendary Rudolfova huť Glassworks - a crucible of Bohemian glass innovation - this pressed crystal bowl, pattern no. 13162/M, embodies a rare fusion of sculptural presence and poetic restraint.

Nicknamed the “Eye Bath”, this piece transcends its functional origins to become a meditation on form, texture, and the perceptual play between surface and depth. Its organically curved silhouette seems to open gently like a pupil dilating to take in light - an evocative gesture that engages the viewer in a circular visual rhythm. The vertical texturing along its walls, meticulously hand-pressed into the crystal, refracts and diffuses light in soft striations that both conceal and reveal as your gaze moves across it.

The matte finish - unusual in glass of its era - deepens this tactile experience, inviting you to not just see the object but to feel it with your eyes. It’s this dual sensory dynamic between gloss and blur, between light and shadow that makes this bowl emblematic of Vízner’s genius: he was a designer unafraid to challenge conventions, seeking instead to cultivate quiet wonder through material presence.

Though rooted in the glassmaking traditions of mid-century Czechoslovakia, the “Eye Bath” resonates with a timeless modernist spirit. It is at once decorative and contemplative, bold in concept yet refined in execution, the kind of piece that elevates a room not by shouting, but by making you look twice.

An object for collectors and aesthetes alike, this Vízner bowl deserves a place where its subtle poetry can be appreciated, whether as a sculptural centrepiece, a vessel of light, or simply as a testament to the visionary creativity of one of Czech glass’s great innovators.

This bowl is preserved in excellent vintage condition, with no chips and only minimal wear consistent with age, just the slightest traces of a life well lived.

Quantity: 1

Period: 1962

Designer: František Vízner

Manufacturer: Rudolfova huť Glassworks, Czechoslovakia

Dimensions: w 18 cm, h 13 cm, d 11 cm

Materials: Glass

Please note delivery cost is not included in the price. Each item's delivery is calculated individually. The cost of delivery of this bowl to UK will be £30 and 20 Euro to the EU. Please email us on info@bybarnabas.com if you would like a quotation for delivery outside EU or the US.