I travelled to the Czech Republic in August 2025, the first of my SSHRC funded research trips to central Europe in search of collections of Anabaptist/Haban ceramics, sites of production, and to make connections with experts in the field. This research tour started in Prague, Czech Republic. A reconnaissance trip took place in 2023 when I travelled to Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and Italy to learn about Anabaptist maiolica and its origins. The 2025 research trip delved into my subject in more depth and crucial connections were made.
I visited three museums in Prague, Czech Republic:
- Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague
- Lobkowicz Palace in Prague, at the Prague Castle complex
- Ethnographic Museum of the National Museum in Prague
Prague Museum of Decorative Arts
The ceramics collection owned by the Museum of Decorative Arts is vast however much of the Anabaptist/Haban collection is not accessible to the public. My visit yielded limited findings of Anabaptist/Haban ceramics, however approximately six to eight pieces were on view (some displayed too high up to photograph). There are numerous pieces of maiolica on display from the factory in Holíč, Slovakia (in German Holitsch, Hungarian Holics), established in 1743 in the former Kingdom of Hungary by Francis of Lorraine, who would become Holy Roman Emperor. There were also many stunning pieces of faience from Italy.
I corresponded with Dr. Jan Mergl from the Prague Museum of Decorative Arts (Uměleckoprůmyslové museum v Praze – UPM), head of the glass, ceramics and porcelain collection. He explained to me that the private collection is not accessible to the public due to the wishes of the estate of the private donor, Hugo Vavrečka, whose collection focussed on Habaner faience (tin-glazed maiolica). Dr. Mergl said “We are sorry, we would like to comply your request, but the best part of the Vavrečka collection of Haban faience is now inaccessible, as it is a private collection deposited at the UPM, which is subject to a special regime. However, this so-called Vavrečka collection has been published several times, most clearly in the catalogue [of the 1995 exhibition].”
The collection of Hugo Vavrečka (grandfather of Václav Havel) has been beautifully documented and illustrated in the book by Jana Kybalová (Kybalová, Jana, and Gabriel Urbánek. Ceramic Collection of / Keramische Sammlung von Hugo Vavrečka. Translated by Zuzana Rousová and Magdalena Průdková. Kentaur / Polygrafia, 1995. [English and German]).
Lobkowicz Palace in Prague
The collection of the Lobkowicz Palace yielded more fruitful results for a researcher of Anabaptist/Haban ceramics, containing a substantial number of Anabaptist/Haban maiolica pieces. The palace sits at the top of the hill as part of the large Prague Castle complex. “Built in the mid-16th century, the Lobkowicz Palace is one of the most significant cultural sites in the Czech Republic and the only private, family-owned palace in the Prague Castle complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Palace witnessed some of Bohemia’s most important historical events. Confiscated twice in the 20th century by the Nazi and Communist regimes, it was restituted to the Lobkowicz family in 2002. In 2007, the family reconstructed and opened the Palace and its collections to the public” (Lobkowicz Palace | House of Lobkowicz).
-Of note in the displays in the Lobkowicz Palace is one of the labels attributed to Haban ceramists – somewhat begrudgingly giving credit to Anabaptist/Haban potters, it posits that the exceptional quality of the maiolica specimens implies that the ware is most likely Italian-made and not products of the Anabaptist/Haban potteries.
Also worthy of mention is the 150-piece tin-glazed, blue and white Delft dinner service commissioned for the Lobkowicz family. Part of the dinner service is on display at the Lobkowicz Palace. “This tin-glazed, 150-piece service dates to c. 1685. It was originally made in an earthenware factory in Delft, Holland, from where it bears its name. After the East India Company was established in 1602, Dutch potters began imitating Chinese blue-and-white ceramics. This service was commissioned by Wenceslas Ferdinand Lobkowicz, whose monogrammed initials adorn it” (Decorative Arts | House of Lobkowicz).
Ethnographic Museum of the National Museum
Housed in the “Kinsky Folly, located in romantical Kinsky Garden between Prague quarters of Lesser Town and Smíchov, was built between 1827–1831 by architect Heinrich Koch in the Empire style. Since 1901, this unique summerhouse is seat of the ethnographical museum which is documenting traditional folk culture of the Czech lands – Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia” (National Museum).
Here we found numerous examples of Anabaptist/Haban ceramics and Czech folk ceramics influenced by the Habaner tradition of painting on white maiolica glaze. Of particular note was the special exhibition titled Pleasures and Vices which focussed on vessels created for alcohol consumption. The thematic focus on vessels created to hold alcoholic beverages holds a special irony given the restrictions and prohibitions placed on consuming alcohol by present-day Ababaptists.
