Miloslav Klinger Ashtray in Turquoise · Železný Brod Sklo, Czechoslovakia · 1960s/70s

Miloslav Klinger (1922–1999) is one of the formative figures in Czechoslovak studio glass. After training at the Železný Brod Glass School under Jaroslav Brychta and Jan Stuchlík, and studying at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague (Karel Štipl studio, completed 1948), Klinger returned to Železný Brod. From 1950, he designed sculptures and glass objects for Železný Brod Sklo (ZBS) – from the iconic "Dancers" for EXPO 58 in Brussels to clearly contoured utility objects of the 1960s and 70s, which combined modernism, Bohemian craft tradition, and industrial serial production readiness.

This ashtray stands in precisely this tradition of his work. The rich turquoise, a typical hue for the Železný Brod palette, is particularly vibrant due to the substantial thickness of the glass wall. From every angle, the color changes in subtle gradations — brilliant and cool when viewed flat, concentrated and deeper at the edges. The geometrically clear form with rounded supports combines function and sculpture, characteristic of Klinger's design work.

The object is in perfect original condition. A distinctive collector's item of Bohemian studio glass from the 1960s to 70s — suitable for a display cabinet as well as an accent piece on a desk, sideboard, or lounge table. Ashtrays of this kind are no longer seen merely as functional objects, but are collected as sculptural glass pieces.

Dimensions: Width 16 cm · Depth 14 cm · Height 6 cm