MISTRAL - FLEET MUSE
The Mistral Fleet Muse
The Mistral Fleet Muse, a glass statue of a girl with flowing hair, is the work of the glassworkers from Desná v Jizerských horách.
The glass statue on a base is made by Preciosa Ornela in Desná. Apart from the fact that the statue symbolises inventiveness and dynamism, which are the main attributes of successful fleet suppliers, there were also other reasons for the choice of decorative glass from Desná. They most certainly include tradition and the high artistic quality of the products from the glassworks in the Jizera Mountains, but there was also one further specific reason: the Fleet Muse belongs to part of the glassworks' product range which is associated with motoring. This involves statues which were sold in the 1930s as mascots for car radiators. At that time, this highly fashionable product evolved into a highly collectable item and this is still the case today.
Glass figures and statues from Preciosa Ornela often take the form of valued trophies for the winners of various competitions, such as Fleet Awards questionnaire.
Size of the Mistral figure: 170 x 210 x 60 mm
This figure and others from the limited edition can be purchased at our GLASS SHOP in Desná.
Contact our sales representative:
Martin Koutný
GLASS FIGURE CATALOGUE
MOTORCYCLIST
The Motorcyclist
The figure of the Motorcyclist is part of the range which is closely linked with motoring. This glass statue was one of many sold by the Heinrich Hoffmann Company in the 1930s for use as mascots on vehicle radiators. These items, which were highly fashionable in their day, subsequently became sought after collectors’ items and this remains the case today.
Size of the Motorcyslist figure: 140 x 153 x 60 mm
The more individual the mascot on the radiator, the more it was appreciated. It was not only the figural working which was important, but also the colour finish. As well as transparent glass, they were also manufactured in coloured variations and lamps were even placed inside them so that the mascots could be lit up. The most sophisticated design involved multi-coloured lamp covers which could be “remotely” turned from the cabin in order to change the mascot’s color. According to period reports, the statues seemed so mystical and supernatural that rural denizens in particular would be overcome with panic and would hide from the mascots’ “field of view”.
This figure and others can be purchased at our GLASS SHOP in Desná.
Contact our sales representative:
GLASS FIGURE CATALOGUE
EAGLE
The Eagle
According to period reports, the figures placed on the car radiators had such a mystical and supernatural effect that the rural populace in particular fell into a panic whenever a vehicle with such an adornment drove past and they endeavoured to hide outside the "field of vision" of the mascots.
Size of the Eagle figure: 140 x 160 x 80 mm
This eagle's head and other glass figures can be purchased at our GLASS SHOP in Desná.
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GLASS FIGURE CATALOGUE
KNEELING WOMAN
The Kneeling Woman
This glass figure of a woman kneeling on a base is an excellent example of the artistry of Czech glass workers which continues to this day. The elegance and flawlessly detailed working make this piece a highly valued collector's item.
Size of the Kneeling woman figure: 165 x 220 x 75 mm
This figure and others can be purchased at our GLASS SHOP in Desná.
Contact our sales representative:
GLASS FIGURE CATALOGUE
BEAM
The Beam
The more individual the mascot on the radiator, the more it was appreciated. This not only applied with regard to the form, but also to the colour finish. As well as clear glass, they were also made in colour variations and bulbs were even installed in some of the figures so as to light the mascots up. The most sophisticated models included multi-coloured lamp covers which could be "remotely" changed from the cabin in order to change the colour of the figures.
Size of the Beam figure: 180 x 185 x 75 mm
This figure and others can be purchased at our GLASS SHOP in Desná.
Contact our sales representative:
GLASS FIGURE CATALOGUE
WOMAN AND LION
The Woman and the Lion
We present another in the series of glass figures produced by Preciosa Ornela in Desná v Jizerských horách in the north of Bohemia which were used as mascots on car radiators.
The figural tableau of the Woman and the Lion symbolises strength, elegance and dynamism, which were generally supposed to be the main attributes of a successful car owner in the 1930s.
Size of the Woman and the Lion figure: 130 x 205 x 75 mm
This figure and others can be purchased at our GLASS SHOP in Desná.
Contact our sales representative:
GLASS FIGURE CATALOGUE
The "FLEET MUSE - MISTRAL" TROPHY
Glass figures and statues from Preciosa Ornela often take the form of valued trophies for the winners of various competitions.
The Mistral Fleet Muse, a glass statue of a girl with flowing hair, is the work of the glassworkers from Desná v Jizerských horách.
The Fleet Awards questionnaire was established in 2008 as a result of the efforts of the Club 91, s.r.o. publishing house, whose portfolio also includes the FLEET magazine for company vehicles.
The increasing attention which is being paid to the area of fleet management by both suppliers and fleet operators initially gave rise to a large nationwide fleet meeting organised under the name of the Day with the Fleet in 2007 and one year later the first Fleet Awards were announced. This involves a questionnaire in which the Company Car of the Year and the fleet products, services and personalities of the year are announced on the basis of an assessment by an expert jury.
The goal of the questionnaire is to evaluate the products and services which stand out in their segment so that this evaluation can then be a good guide for fleet managers seeking the most advantageous services and products in the market. Since being established, the questionnaire has gradually built up its prestige and at the same time it has also undergone continual development in the interests of ensuring the most objective possible evaluation system and the greatest possible relevance of the results.
The traditional trophy is made by the glass masters at Preciosa Ornela's Desná glassworks. It is called the "Fleet Muse - Mistral" and it has been manufactured under the Desná Since 1847® brand.
The glass statue on a base is made by Preciosa Ornela in Desná. Apart from the fact that the statue symbolises inventiveness and dynamism, which are the main attributes of successful fleet suppliers, there were also other reasons for the choice of decorative glass from Desná. They most certainly include tradition and the high artistic quality of the products from the glassworks in the Jizera Mountains, but there was also one further specific reason: the Fleet Muse belongs to part of the glassworks' product range which is associated with motoring. This involves statues which were sold in the 1930s as mascots for car radiators. At that time, this highly fashionable product evolved into a highly collectable item and this is still the case today.
This figure and others can be purchased at our GLASS SHOP in Desná.
Contact our sales representative:
GLASS FIGURE CATALOGUE
HOW IS IT MADE?
Producing twenty-one glass statuettes for the winners of the Fleet Awards is not a matter of just two or three shifts. It is a long process which takes several weeks. Are you interested to know, how it is done? So let us go on a small excursion...
The mould only makes a semi-product
The glassmakers start by carefully cleaning the mould, which also has to be heated to the necessary temperature before pressing the glass. The molten glass is poured into the prepared mould until it is completely full. However, that is just the beginning. This is followed by a long process of gradual cooling so that the mould does not crack and only then can the casting be removed. At this stage it is nothing more than a semi-product, which is sent to the craftsmen in the polishing plant so that they can carefully work it and give it its final appearance. First, any glass overpress from the mould is carefully removed.
The individual parts of the statuette are then given a rough polish before the delicate and meticulous work involving the detailed polishing or the matting of some parts of the statuette. Even though it may look simple, in reality the entire production process takes several weeks from the very beginning through to the phase when the product is ready to be delivered. It is meticulous work which cannot be done without knowledge and skill, but also without a close relationship with this beautiful process.
From the glassworks to the winners
The polishers’ work is followed by quality control and, if everything is found to be in order, the Fleet Muse can then proceed to be packaging. It is then sent on its way to the Club 91, s.r.o. publishing house. There, the stone base is fitted with a plaque with the name of the category, the name of product and the winner’s name, once all the votes have been counted. And then comes the moment when the envelope is opened and the supplier’s representative or the winning fleet manager comes on stage for his or her piece of glass craftsmanship, which will be a reminder of his or her own skill and hard work.
