Scope of work: restoration, lighting manufacturing, forging of other objects

Used materials: brass, glass, linden wood, tin composition

Interesting fact:

Shortly before the final approval, the investor made an additional order of 90 new lights. Later in the evening, glass and metal stamping folds were designed. On Tuesday glass ornaments were blown, brass covers were manufactured, and electronic wiring was assembled.

The following Friday, one car brought glass screens from Košťany, another delivered polished and painted brass parts and the third brought interior constructions with fluorescent lights. Without any previous testing, everything fell perfectly into place and all of the client’s expectations were fulfilled.

The lighting in The Rudolfinum was the first large order for the newly established company BOS, which brought it to the top amongst other lighting manufacturers in what was then Czechoslovakia. One of the reasons why our company was offered the order in the first place, was the fact that the only approached company was Lustry Kamenický Šenov, whose representatives unfortunately arrived late to the meeting at the Ministry of Culture and by that time all the work had already been divided.

Reconstruction design: Ing. arch. Karel Prager

https://www.rudolfinum.cz/

A jewel of European Art Nouveau and a matter of heart and soul for our company.

1. 1992 – remanufacturing and the completion of missing parts of the entrance awning including the light carriers
2. 1993 – manufacturing of the exterior lighting according to the original Křižík lantern from the Prague Powder Tower
3. 1994 – 1997 – a complete reconstruction and restoration to its initial state
4. 1998 – manufacturing of the ceiling lamp of the “Český klub”

Scope of work: restoration and manufacture of lighting, grilles, fittings and other elements in the following parts of the building:

• Basement: Pilsen restaurant – American bar – Wine cellar
• Ground floor: Smetana Hall – French restaurant – Café 
• I. floor: Mayor’s Hall – Rieger Hall – Grégr Hall – Palacký Hall – Sladkovský Hall – Confectionary – Oriental Parlour – Moravian Slovak Parlour – Božena Němcová Parlour
• II. floor: Exhibition rooms
• The entrance, hallways, staircase and other spaces in the whole building

Interesting fact: 

The majority of the lights were restored according to the original photographs, which have been preserved in the Štenc archive. By then already forgotten technologies were used once again, such as manufacturing light bulbs according to the original shape from the Philips company in laboratory conditions, in the now defunct company Tesla Lenešice. 

In recent years, with the purpose for easier cleaning and maintaining of the light fixtures, the original cut glass pendants have been replaced by frosted sheet glass and thus, the light fixtures have lost their Art Nouveau beauty, sparkle and sheen. To ensure the original appearance, this meant supplying approximately 7 000 glass trimming bars in 12 variations and 37 000 pieces of cut trimmings in 20 variations. All of this was replicated according to patterns from the first realizations of the original companies: Křižík, Frant Anýž, Suda – Kotěšovec and more. 

Reconstruction design: Association of Architects for the Reconstruction of the Municipal House

Scope of work: refurbishment and manufacturing of lighting fixtures, grilles and other objects of artistic and craft character in the Municipal Hall, Old Council Hall, the Brožík Assembly Hall and the George Hall. Also in the main entrance, exhibition halls, ground floor and other areas.

Interesting fact:

Three pieces of the chandeliers and a number of wall lamps for the Municipal Hall were completed at an earlier deadline, requested by the investor, in our workshops at 8 p.m. After the chandeliers were transferred to Prague, they were assembled and already lit at 2 a.m., and at 8 a.m. a flawless approval followed.

Only a few people that already knew us, believed we would reach this impossible deadline.

Design of the lighting fixtures: Karel Švásta

On its long journey, the building of the National Theatre went through many periods of partial or complete repairs and reconstructions, some of which were not always successful.

Scope of work: 

1. Restoration of the central chandelier
2. Remanufacturing of exterior pendant lights
3. Manufacturing forged wall lanterns 

Interesting fact:

Our company BOS Mladá Boleslav was approached in 2005 by the management of the National Theatre for the restoration of the central chandelier. 

One of the many demands was to remove the clinking of the chandelier parts when trams pass around the theatre building. One issue was the very short threads of the light bulb sockets, which remained from past repairments. When the metal crafting was completed, the chandelier’s electrical installation was replaced, including the high-current control wiring and finally, the chandelier was plated with gold.

The majority of the work was done in the space of the theatre and our workshops.

During the subsequent repair of the facade, we remanufactured the exterior pendant lights. We worked with details from the lighting fixtures of the Prague National Museum for the manufacturing of the forged exterior lanterns, while respecting the requirements of the Monument Care Department.

This early Gothic church, more often referred to as a cathedral, dates back to the middle of the 13th century during the reign of Ottokar II of Bohemia. Following the fire in the cathedral, the reconstruction was led by Petr Parléř himself, simultaneously with the construction of the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague taking place.

Scope of work: manufacturing of atypical chandeliers, wall lamps for illuminating wood carvings of the Way of the Cross and other elements.

Interesting fact:

According to the request, the lighting fixtures were meant to be quite simple as not to overshadow the interior design of the cathedral and in any way distract the visitors from its beautiful details. A crown of chandelier arms was made for the already existing candelabra of the floor lamps.

Design of the lighting fixtures: Karel Švásta