![]() ![]() This road finally created a connection between Iser and the Giant Mountains with a central Bohemian road network. It was perfectly located: in 1847, a main road was laid through the Giant Mountains between Reichenberg, Gablonz and Trautenau. The new glassworks was based in Polaun near Klein Iser and had a wood-burning furnace. On 6 March 1849, Josef Riedel bought a new glassworks, with his own money, from Ignaz Friedrich, a textile entrepreneur and glass trader. These were used to stretch glass to make tubes for the six faceted cut and polished seed beads then in demand. In the early 1850s two long ‘pulling rooms’ were added to the glassworks. He was awarded the Empire's Golden Service Cross as a tribute to his glassmaking skills. Begler invented a number of coloured glass types including jet black, lily yellow, antimony ruby, marble-like variations, and the Venetian aventurine. Kittel retired in 1853 and was replaced by Johann Bengler, a bookkeeper from Christiansthal, who headed up the works for nearly forty years. The Klein Iser Works were left in the capable hands of his kinsman Karl Kittel. In 1840, the glassworks in Antoniwald produced an annual 761 tons of clear and coloured glass, small bottles, chandelier trimmings and glass rods. However, he did not own any share of his wife's businesses. The Beginning: Building a Solid Foundation Īfter Franz Riedel's (Fifth Generation, 1786–1844) death, his son-in-law Josef and daughter Marie Anna moved into the manor house in Antoniwald and Josef took over the reins of the Klein Iser and Antoniwald Works. Shortly after his death, Josef's sons registered the first Riedel logo in 1895. Josef was known as ‘The Glass King of the Jizera Mountains’ (1844–94). The industrial magnate Josef Schreiber, head of Vienna's big glass company Josef Schreiber & Neffen, even called him the greatest expert on glassmaking in Bohemia. Josef Riedel was also respected as a glass expert in his own right. The owners of these companies regularly informed the Riedels about current demand, competition, and big orders that exporters then forwarded to their suppliers for production. The Riedel company operated retail warehouses in all major manufacturing locations around Gablonz. It was in this company where Daniel Swarovski later began his career. It was his financial support in 1861, for example, which allowed the company Gebrüder Feix in Albrechtsdorf to get started, which went on to become one of the largest manufacturers of buttons, black fashion jewellery and crystal wares in the land. He helped businesses that needed capital, provided loans at 6% interest, and even assisted them financially to find export markets. In addition, Josef was an extensive landowner, and a well-known banker and financier in the mountainous region. Josef Riedel The Elder named this glass type "Annagelb" and "Annagrün" after his wife Anna he married in 1840. According to Walter Spiegl, an author who specialized in the topic of glass of the 19th century, Josef Riedel The Elder was the first to invent uranium glass. He did not discount prices – on the contrary, he offered only quality products and customers appreciated this. Josef Riedel dedicated his life to building an empire with solid foundations. Father’ and his contemporaries referred to him as the ‘Glass King of the Iser Mountains’. ![]() His employees respectfully addressed him as ‘Mr. Through hard work and diligence, he was a contemporary model for success in business. ![]() He received many accolades for his achievements: he was awarded the ‘Grand Prix’ at the World Fair in Vienna in 1873, honorary citizenship by local authorities in Franzesbad and Wiesenthal and he was awarded an Order by the Pope. His glassworks produced glass jewellery, beads and chandelier parts and in 1873, they began producing luxury hollow glass products too. He owned eight glassworks in 1858 to include two textile factories and coalmines. Josef Riedel The Elder (sixth generation, 1816– 94) was born in the time of the industrial revolution. ![]()
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