Glass has been part of the Oliva family for three generations. Each generation has brought its own experience, its own artistic signature and new ways of working with the material. From industrial glass design and historical glass to contemporary jewellery, mosaics and art objects, this is the story of a family bound together by craft, creativity and the ability to find its own way.

Ladislav Oliva Sr. (b. 1933) followed his training in glassmaking with studies at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague (UMPRUM), in the studio of Professor Josef Kaplický. He worked at several important Czech glassmaking centres and devoted himself to industrial design as well as sandblasted and pressed glass.

His designs combined artistic invention with the technical possibilities of glass production. Later he taught in Železný Brod, where he passed on his experience to new generations of glassmakers.

At Hrubá Horka, a family studio was established that built on the experience of the previous generation and gradually grew into a creative base of its own. Here the family built its own workshops, technical equipment and space for experimenting with the material.

Other family members gradually joined the work, bringing new perspectives on the use of glass. The studio became a place where different generations, techniques and artistic approaches meet.

Together with her daughters, Marie Olivová expanded the family’s focus to include glass jewellery and work with beads. Colours, textures and the possibilities of combining different materials came to the fore.

Their work showed that glass need not be only part of functional objects or large-scale artworks, but can also become a distinctive piece of jewellery. This period opened up space for the individual artistic signature of each family member.

Tereza Mušková Olivová builds on the family’s artistic background, but has gradually found her own path. She studied glass engraving and the minting of coins and medals, which gave her a solid foundation in precise craftsmanship. Her experience in art and her feel for detail are also reflected in her approach to jewellery, which brings together relief elements, semi-precious stones and distinctive symbolism.

Today she devotes herself fully to painting, through which she develops her own artistic signature.

In 2005, the family studio expanded to include the production of interior mosaic pictures, along with the technical facilities to make its own coloured glass. This opened up further possibilities for working with colour, texture and assembling glass into larger compositions.

The family also creates cast glass objects and takes on special commissions, such as reconstructing glass for historic cars. The common denominator is the search for technical solutions that make even unusual artistic ideas possible.

The artistic environment of the Oliva family also influences the youngest generation. The children are growing up in a creative atmosphere that naturally leads them to discover their own interests and abilities. Each of them is free to find their own path.

Mateo, the eldest son of Ondřej and Kateřina, already shows a strong interest in drawing at the age of six. His first artistic efforts are both a joy for the family and a promise that creativity can carry on. Only time will tell whether any of the children will one day follow in the footsteps of previous generations. What matters is that the family environment passes on to them experience, inspiration and the freedom to develop their own ideas.

Each generation brings its own view of glass, new techniques and a distinctive artistic signature. The common foundation remains respect for the material, precise work and a willingness to go beyond established methods. Family tradition here does not mean merely repeating the past, but passing on experience that leaves room for new ideas.

The most precious thing we pass on is not just the craft, but the ability to create in our own way.