In this ongoing series I take quick portraits of distinguished master craftsmen and shed some light upon people who far too often stay in the proverbial shadow.
The Vavra family prides itself on crafting fine violins and violas for many generations.
The Vavra family prides itself on crafting fine violins and violas for many generations.
Karel Vavra (*1935) began working in this very workshop in 1950 and still uses wooden material hand-picked and purchased by his late father Karel between 1932-1939 in the Czech mountains, which is carefully stored in the back of his small manufactory to this day. His son Tomas has been working alongside his father since 1980.
Mr. Zahradník represents the 8th and last generation of an ancient family of glass-blowers in which craftsmanship is handed down from father to son since 1775. He works out of his small backyard workshop in the southern suburbs of Prague.
His unique trademark products include all-glass steam engines, mobile locomotives and a fully operational glass airplane.
His unique trademark products include all-glass steam engines, mobile locomotives and a fully operational glass airplane.