SHINE & COLOR: An Exhibition of Over 150 Luxurious & Incomparable Glass Exhibits

It is a unique exhibition with exhibits that have mostly not been exhibited until presently. They stand out for their representativeness and craftsmanship, such as unique chandeliers, plates, glasses, welcome cups and the like.

This exhibition is the result of a cooperation between two museums, and, as we have come to know, it has been in preparation for years but its realization was obstructed by the coronavirus pandemic. However, all these marvelous glass objects have arrived in our city and it will be possible to see them until February 25, 2023. 

- The Museum of Arts and Crafts as the biggest art organization cooperates with numerous museums in Croatia.  We also have one of the largest collections of glass, not ancient, but glass, so cooperation with this museum began on the day the Museum of Ancient Glass was founded. This is one of the best moments of our continuous cooperation. A part of the material that has actually never left the museum is presented here and it has been part of the permanent exhibition of the museum for 20 years or more. Since most of the museum has been evacuated, that part of the material is now available for presentation outside Zagreb and offering a premiere presentation to the Zadar public - said Miroslav Gašparović, director of the Museum of Arts and Crafts, on the occasion of the opening of the exhibition, referring to the fact that the Museum of Arts and Crafts suffered damages during the earthquake in Zagreb.

Sandra Kandučar Trojan, senior curator of the Museum of Arts and Crafts, is the author of the exhibition and she stated that the exhibition was inter-museum cooperation and the promotion of historical and contemporary glassmaking from the rich fund of the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Zagreb and the associated Glass Collection, which is unique in Croatia in terms of the number of objects, representativeness and the historical period it covers (16th-20th centuries). 

- It is a selection from the 19th century glass collection that we had in our deposit and it was a part of the permanent exhibition that could be seen only in Zagreb. Some parts are presented to the public for the first time – the author commented. 

The exhibition is definitely worth visiting because it has truly unique glass pieces. Among the exhibits is a beautiful sugar bowl created using the technique of casting into a mold, then uranium glass, which actually has some uranium in it, but is not radioactive, says the author Kandučar Trojan. An exhibition showcase is dedicated only to domestic glass and there were about 15 such pieces in the 19th century.  

On behalf of the Museum of Ancient Glass in Zadar, along with the director. Hrvoje Manenica, PhD, the large audience was also greeted by Vedran Jović Gazić, PhD, senior curator of the Museum of Ancient Glass in Zadar and coordinator and expert associate at the exhibition.  The exhibition was solemnly opened by Dina Bušić, Head of the Administrative Department for Culture and Sport of the City of Zadar.

- These cooperations were a usual practice in the past decades, but have intensified lately. After a series of unfortunate events with which North Croatia was confronted, it is actually comforting that we have good events and a whole series of pleasant events after that. – said the Head of the Department.