Made In Czechoslovakia, 1918-1938
Forsythe, Ruth A
72 p. Soft Cover 1982. $29.95
Out Of Print

In 1982 Ruth A. Forsythe of Galena, Ohio, published Made In
Czechoslovakia, one of the first four-color books printed in English
identifying Czech art glass and related items. Information in the book
includes an introduction, a brief history of Czechoslovakia, and the
various types of marks.
Section I features cased art glass and a page of brief descriptions of
cased, cameo, green adventurine and satin glass. The glass is
professionally photographed and is grouped mostly according to color.
All descriptions are brief indicating height and color.
Section II has one page of candy baskets.
Section III features cut glass perfume bottles and puff boxes. There is
quite a bit more description in this section as this is Forsythe's
primary area of interest. There are 10 four-color pages and 11 black
and white pages of perfume bottles.
Section IV shows mold blown and pressed perfume bottles and puff boxes
as well as novelties, jewelry and miscellaneous items.
Section V shows opaque, crystal and colored transparent glass. Section
VI has nice photos and descriptions of lamps, perfume lamps, two pages
of beaded and beaded basket lamps as well as some lamp globes and
shades.
The final Section VII pictures 74 pieces of pottery, porcelain and
semi-porcelain. The back of the book has a one-page glossary of glass
terminology.
This a good book with 763 items illustrated to help beginners identify
a wide variety of Czech items. Though out of print, it can still be
found through the internet, Czech dealers, glass shows and antiques
shops. The price list was revised in 2000. It was tipped into the book
on a separate sheet of paper.


Made In Czechoslovakia Book 2, 1918-1938
Forsythe, Ruth A
96 p. Soft Cover 1993. $29.95
PB ISBN# 0-915410-98-2
Out Of Print


Published 11 years after her first book on Czechoslovakian glass, Made
In Czechoslovakia Book 2 was most welcomed by collectors of Czech
pottery and porcelain. Forsythe did not disappoint with Book 2 that
features 672 pieces of pottery and porcelain with an addenda of 343
glass perfume bottles. Her philosophy is "A picture is worth a thousand
words, therefore, descriptions of all items are brief."

There are three and a half pages of identifying marks that are very
helpful to the Czech pottery collector. Featured is a brief history of
the Peasant Art pottery and collectors will be delighted to see a few
photographs of the designer Joseph Mrazek at the kiln in his Yorkville
apartment. Also included are photos of decorators working in the
Letovice factory and Joseph Mrazek with some of his design work in his
studio. There is quite a bit of information on the Peasant Art pottery
including a four-color advertisement and eight pages of peasant art
photographs.

Pottery items pictured in the book are Amphora and Amphora type,
majolica, lamps, Art Deco and novelty items, art pottery, people,
animals, birds, luster and iridescent items. Also included are dinner
sets and kitchen items. Near the end of the book are 20 pages of
perfume bottles illustrated in four-color photographs.

Made In Czechoslovakia Book II is good to help identify Czech pottery
and porcelain. It is out of print and the price guide is out of date.
The book can still be found on the internet, through Czech dealers,
glass and pottery shows, and antiques shops.

Reviewed by Marsha A. Fox, August 2005