Moser glass, as opposed to Mosser glass, is a Nineteenth to Twenty-First Century Bohemian glass manufacturer known for its fine glass and hand painted decoration. Although the company was originally established in 1857 to polish and engrave the glass made by other companies, Ludwig Moser, the founder of the company, discovered his own glass formula that resulted in a hard, durable clear glass that did not require lead, making it easier on the environment and workers at his glass factory. That same formula is in use today, and the company continues to produce fine clear and colored glass with many techniques of decoration.
Moser glass has become collectible due to its fine qualities. The polishing, engraving and hand painted wares have been the favorites of the wealthy and noble since the beginning, and a lot of antique Moser glass resides in museums. During its production, it has been displayed at various world exhibitions and awarded medals. Among others are:
- Vienna International Exhibition of 1873
- Panama-Pacific International Exposition, 1915
- Paris International Exhibition of Decorative Art in 1925
The excellence of the glass being produced protected the company to some extent during the Communist years, when other Czechoslovakian glass companies were nationalized.
Almost all the techniques of making glass can be found in the Moser wares at some time or other. The white-encased cut-to-color with additional hand painted flowers is one form of glass Moser has made. There is also a lot of hand enameled decanters, cruets, boxes, cups and goblets ascribed to Moser. There are hock glasses, where the bowl is made of a colored glass and the stem from clear glass, and clear glasses with gold rims and fine etching. Household items like vases and mantle lusters, as well as ashtrays and perfume bottles, can also be found made by, or ascribed to, Moser. Since Moser signs its products, the right to call anything Moser can be verified.
There are at least three books about Moser glass which should help anyone deciding to collect this glass, but there cannot be a complete photo archive of the company’s products. Therefore it is necessary to develop an eye for the qualities that make Moser the fine glassware it is, and learn where to look for the maker’s mark. With such a long run, the style of the glass and decorations will cover an extensive range, allowing the collector of a specific style to also indulge in Moser glass.
Until you develop your own expertise, buy from reputable dealers or where you can get a money back guarantee if you spend large amounts of money on this glass. The term Moser can be loosely fit to any Bohemian glass or even modern glass. Also, the styles Moser has made famous have been copied a great deal. Be careful.
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