Art Deco crystal box, Beckert for Pietsch, Schwarzlot frieze, c.1915-20

A lovely piece of Bohemian glass from the early Art Deco years, around 1915–1920. It's a hand-cut crystal lidded box, wrapped all the way round with a black silhouette frieze of a merry Bacchanalian procession. The design is by Adolf Beckert, made at the Friedrich Pietsch refinery in Steinschönau. What I love most is the frieze: satyrs, a dancing maenad, musicians and drinkers, with Bacchus carried on a litter in the middle. Beckert drew it in the "Schattenriss" style, so the figures look like little theatrical paper cutouts. Heavy clear crystal with hand-cut facets on the bowl and the lid. Frieze hand-painted in the traditional Schwarzlot technique (black enamel), with small gold accents. Faceted finial stained amber-yellow. Adolf Beckert (1884–1929) was art director at Loetz (1909–1911), then taught at the Steinschönau Glass School and became its director in 1918. Pietsch worked closely with the school and produced designs by its professors. Dimensions: Total height with lid: 15 cm. Bowl: diameter 12 cm, height 8 cm. Lid: diameter 12.5 cm. Condition is very good for its age. The crystal is nice and clear. There's light wear and scratches on the underside of the base, a tiny chip on the very top of the finial, and a small chip on the inner rim of the bowl, which you can't see with the lid on. No cracks and no restoration. It's a great piece for a glass collector, and lovely in use on a dressing table. I pack it very carefully. The shipping cost shown is approximate, so please contact me to confirm the quote before ordering. If you're outside the EU, please message me for a shipping quote.