A four-thousand-year-old story of glass

Three of Zagreb’s museums – the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Arts and Crafts and the Mimara Museum have joined forces to present one exhibition titled “Transparent Beauty – Glass from Croatian Museums”, which presents the history of glass-making over the past four thousand years.

To mark Croatia’s accession to the EU, a representative exhibition titled “Transparent Beauty – Glass from Croatian Museums”, has been opened simultaneously at three of Zagreb’s many museums. This unique museum project has been organized by the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Arts and Crafts and the Mimara Museum. With the help of 33 other museums from all over Croatia, this exhibition provides the perfect opportunity to appreciate the importance of the holdings of Croatia’s museums. The exhibition presents the diversity of glass artefacts which have been crafted in Croatia over the past four thousand years. The story begins at the Archaeological Museum, which showcases valuable glass items dating back to the period between the 2nd millennium before Christ and the Middle Ages. Visitors can also see selected exhibits from the holdings of the archaeological museum collections from all over Croatia. The Museum of Arts and Crafts features pieces which span various stylistic periods, from the renaissance until the mid 20th century, and thus continues not only the story of glassmaking in this area, but also testifies to Croatia’s contribution to European heritage and the art of living. The exhibition features more than 360 glass exhibits from the museum’s collection and provides visitors with an insight into the diversity of shapes and styles reflecting the evolution of glass production over the centuries. Works by some of the most significant masters, best renowned workshops, and 20th century pieces by Croatian authors such as Antun Motika and Raoul Goldoni puts our museum on a par with museums across the world. The finale of this unique, four-thousand-year-old story takes place at the Mimara Museum, where one can view works by contemporary Croatian glass artists, including Kuzma Kovačić, Kažimir Hraste, Dražen Trogrlić and Gordana Drinković, who have also designed the exhibition’s souvenirs.

The exhibition will remain open until October 13th. One ticket is valid for all three museums, which are all within walking distance of each other.