Czechoslovakian Collectors Association (CCA) Annual Meeting - IN

The Czechoslovakian Collectors Association (CCA) Annual Meeting will be held in Castleton, IN June 11 – June 13, 2010

CCA is a membership organization embracing the Austrian, Bohemian, and Czechoslovakian decorative arts (what many members refer to as the ABCs of collecting). CCA serves as a forum for collectors to meet and share information and add to their collections. Our members include collectors, researchers, educators, dealers, appraisers and museums from across the US and Canada.

CCA’s annual convention will be held June 11-13, 2010 at the Hilton North in Castleton, IN (northeastern Indianapolis. The convention includes seminars, sellers, and exhibits, as well as a banquet and time for socializing.

In 2010 we are honored that Jiri Harcuba (world renowned glass engraver) will attend the convention and present information about the history of Bohemian engraved glass. He will also give demonstrations of engraving techniques. To accompany the seminar, we will have an exhibit of Bohemian engraved glass.

One of our members will present (and display) his Czech Deco Ladies – made of ceramic. Another member will present How to Inventory Your Collection and Insuring Your Collection. On Saturday, we will offer a 1-hour seminar providing basic information on ABC glass and ceramic collecting. This will be followed by an auction offering a wide range of ABC glass and ceramic items.

If you would like more information about the convention, please contact Elizabeth Meek (edeltabutterfly@sbcglobal.net); phone 317-844-7212.. Registration information will be available in February 2010. Check out CCA’s website at: www.czechcollectors.org.

Jiri Harcuba

The name conjures visions of immaculately engraved faces depicting the depth of personality of the subject. Although he honors his predecessor Dominik Biman, Jiri has developed his own style of portraiture. Jiri learned the basics of his craft at his father’s feet, and at the age of 13 was apprenticed as an engraver at the Glassworks in Harrachov, Czechoslovakia. He then studied under Professors Stanislav Libensky and Josef Kaplicky and worked at the Academy of Art and Design in Prague.

            
                                          Jiri Harcuba

Although his work was good enough to be displayed at EXPO 58 in Brussels and the Triennial in Milan in 1959, his views of life did not conform to those of the Communist government in Czechoslovakia. In 1971 he was fired from his job at the Academy. But Jiri is resilient. His freelance work and teaching earned him recognition around the world. In 1990 he was appointed Professor at the Academy, from which he retired in 1994.

Jiri has created engraved portraits of many famous people, including musicians (Bach, Beethoven, Dvorak, Paganini, Smetana), artists (Cezanne, Chagall, Dali), writers (Bacon, Goethe, Kafka, Tolstoy), politicians (Ghandi, Havel), and philosophers (Comenius, Kierkegaard, Lao-tzu, Plato). His works can be seen in museums in Prague, Brno, Dusseldorf, and Corning NY. Americans, especially, have honored his work, with awards given by the American Numismatic Society, the Corning Museum of Glass, and the Glass Arts Society.

At 82, Jiri still shares his love for engraving with students. His calendar is full with speaking and teaching engagements. But in the spring he returns to his historic family home in Harrachov and hikes in the mountains that gave birth to the glass industry. Jiri Harcuba describes his life as an unfinished song and, as he says, “I am still singing.”