The Karl (Karel) Palda commercial glass refinery was founded in 1888 and located in Haida, Bohemia (now the Czech Republic). By the 1920s it had grown into a well-respected company known for their exquisite geometric designs. Karl Palda specialized in vanity sets, perfume bottles and atomizers, decanters, decanter sets, vases, and candlesticks.
From 1933 to 1938 it collaborated closely with Karl (Karel) Hosch resulting in its most recognizable, striking and innovative geometric designs. In 1938 Karl Palda's son Jaroslav Palda assumed management of the company. Then in 1945 the company became part of Bor Glassworks (Borské Sklárny). In 1953 Bor Glassworks was merged with Borské Sklo (a Czech glass conglomerate that later became Crystalex).
Each piece was meticulously handmade, etched and enameled, making each one a truly unique work of art. Unfortunately, not much information is available about the individual glassmakers and artists who worked at Karl Palda during the Art Deco period.
The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York has Palda's catalogs in its Rakow Research Library collection. Unfortunately, these records have yet to be digitized. Instead, collectors rely heavily on their experience and years of research in identifying Palda glass.
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