HANDMADE DREAMS project was launched on the 20th of October at the Czech Centre in Sofia. Its core - an exhibition of contemporary Czech glass jewelry, could be seen there until the 2nd of December.

Currently the exhibition is in Thessaloniki (Greece), where it will remain until the 4th of January 2017 and then, after the 10th of January it will shine again in our country - in Sevlievo, in the gallery Visible. The interesting project is implemented thanks to the Czech centers, the Museum of Glass and Jewelery in Jablonec Nad Nisou and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

HANDMADE DREAMS shows current trends in the Czech jewelery, which intertwine traditional motifs and modern accents, it shows a representative selection of award-winning works in the design competition of the Master of Crystal. The selection of the jewelry as well as the interesting representation, is the work of the curator Peter Novi from the Museum of Glass and Jewelery in Jablonec Nad Nisou.

Czech jewelry and glass are world famous brands and when the two are combined unique works are obtained. Historically, that production began to get exported back in the 17th century. The talent of producers and decisive traders, along with glaziers, managed to transform the northern Czech Republic for three centuries not only into a "Crystal Valley", but also into an impressive "factory under the open sky". All kinds of brilliant beauty could have been ordered there. In the 19th century the center of the production was in Jablonec Nad Nisou and thanks to that it became one of the largest cities in the Czech Republic.

Even though the mass-produced jewelry in the beginning imitated luxury jewelry for the poorer segments of society, in the first half of the 19th century unique pieces and collections for exhibitions and for demanding customers began to appear. Today Jablonec jewelry shines at world exhibitions, movie stars wear it, it is part of the unique creations of leading fashion designers.

Photos provided by the Czech Centre in Sofia. Photographer: Denitsa Prodanova