CGD23

For years Rückl has been the epitome of a well-defined, viable and visionary brand. It was no accident that in 2017 they received the Producer of the Year at Czech Grand Design, just two years after being acquired by Martin Wichterle. 
The direction it has taken this year hints at a balanced combination of pink and punk, tenderness and force, humility and sass – the HERO•INE collection was designed for Rückl by their new creative director Kateřina Handlová. The comfortably rounded glass vases have attractive decors, as audacious as they are reserved, and were first presented at last year’s Designblok. It was a very successful debut.
Kateřina Handlová’s arrival at Rückl was one of the main events of last year. The expectations were high. Not only because she started during a difficult time when glassworks were facing extreme energy prices which indeed liquidated some of them, but also because she replaced at the helm her own teacher, the highly respected Rony Plesl. Kateřina comes from a family of glassmakers, so she has had a love for the craft since she can remember. She completed her studies at The Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague and continued learning abroad, most notably in Dubai where she worked for three years as head designer at Lasvit, and in the Dutch studio Thier & VanDaalen. She is interested in the connection of glass to other elements, such as metal or leather, and enjoys finding the hidden beauty of things. Her exploratory style merged with the vision and character of a local glassworks and made Rückl truly take off.
The brand is built around the legacy of Bohemian crystal and on the essence of Czech glass – its unique cut. Glass cutting has transformed from the traditional cuts we know from our grandmothers’ tableware into a tool for developing unique designs. The HERO•INE and Spirit collections are both based on these values, but also develop an unorthodox, punk elegance and the tradition of a visionary aesthetic. The HERO•INE collection contains seven vases with a unique cut in diverse colorways and five sizes. Each of the vases has its own unique personality, its name and character paying homage to strong and courageous women – heroines which have left their mark in the world of art, culture or society. Each vase celebrates the originality of their character and inner strength while communicating a single, shared message.
Both collections launched by Rückl in collaboration with Kateřina Handlová are a bombshell in the best sense of the word. They are juicy and bold, humble and sexy. And they are a stellar debut for a young and strong artist and a confident, dynamic brand. This combination places Rückl in the top echelon of European glassworks.

Michaela Kádnerová