Tradition and history

STANKA
1936/38 – 1962

Between 1936 and 1938, Emanuel Stank founded the Emanuel Stanka glass refinery in Bohemian Kamnitz. He had been working in the glass business for a while. So Emanuel worked together with Mr. Eschler and Mr. Hoffmann in Falkenau in Bohemia. Mr. Hoffmann set up the ball egg to found the new glass processing company and also worked for Stanka's company. In Bohemia, it was common for glass finishing companies to cooperate with independent grinders who grind the glass at home. Emanuel Stanka himself employed a large number of these home workers.

During the Second World War, the glass refinery primarily manufactured toilet sets. The sets often consisted of a sprayer, a flacon and a powder box. However, the products could also be purchased individually. Most of the goods were made of lead crystal glass or pure crystal glass. Stanka decorated these products with golden, red or black colored areas. However, some toilet sets were designed in colored glass - pink antique.

The toilet sets are kept in a modern style for that time. A clear, no-frills design language, with clear cuts and geometric, colored decor. The liqueur sets that Stanka offered at that time are also in the same style. These consist of a bottle and an associated cup or goblet.

After the end of the war, the Czech glass companies were organized in the "National Administration of Glass Refineries in Steinschönau". This organization was transferred to VEB Borské sklarny np on January 1st, 1947. Emanuel Stanka had also joined this association.

In 1947 Emanuel Stanka was expelled to Germany and settled in Rheinbach near Bonn in September 1947. Many Bohemian glassmakers met in this region and started to rebuild their industry there. This was supported by the Marshall Plan in the course of the reconstruction of Germany. Emanuel Stanka also received several loans from the European Recovery Program. With these funds, the resourceful glassmaker was able to revitalize his business.

In 1948 Emanuel Stanka lived and produced in Koblenzerstraße 4a in Rheinbach. At that time, his household included, along with his five family members, 16 other relatives from the five trained specialists. In the same year, the glass refinery launched its first price list. Stanka primarily produced vases, jugs, mugs, liquor bottles and compote bowls. The shapes correspond to the typical Bohemian canon. Most vessels are decorated with floral ornaments, line nets, or simple cuts.

Stanka quickly rebuilt his company. He expanded his range until 1950. In addition to the well-known products, Stanka especially turned to the design of new drinking glass series. In addition to a cognac swivel series and the Antoinette goblet series, Stanka also designed today's series for the nobility service, the electoral glasses and the Maria Theresa shape. The Maria Theresia series, however, was somewhat different in its form at the time than it is today. The stem and base already looked like our glasses today. The cupola, however, was still provided with a strictly conical wall.

In addition to these classic products, Stanka also developed two new products. The carafes with lock plugs and the Viennese wine inserts. The Viennese wine sets are wine lifters. In a carafe, which is suspended in a metal frame, the wine can be poured directly into the wine glass underneath.

The carafes with lock plugs can be closed with this special feature. The product called “Father's Secret” has a letter code that locks the stopper. A second carafe is closed by a stopper with the corresponding key.

Emanuel Stanka's business went so well that he also took part in well-known trade fairs from 1953. In 1962, the company founder gradually retired and handed over the business to the John family.

JOHN
1962 – 1999

In 1962 Emanuel Stanka retired from active working life. He handed over his glass refinery to the John family: Clare and Rudolf John. Rudolf John comes from Blottendorf in Bohemia. His family has a long tradition in the glassmaking industry. The company owned the Emil Schiffner company between 1906 and 1945 and the Clarahütte since 1941.

The John family deliberately set the E. Stanka brand in the tradition of North Bohemian glassmaking. As a result, the John family made the John brand world famous. So one took part in the big product shows in Germany as in Frankfurt a. M., Hanover and Leipzig, as well as trade fairs abroad such as in France, Japan and the United States. The Stanka company also exported to Western Europe, the USA, Venezuela and Japan.

The range was gradually converted to large drinking glass series. This was also reflected in the company lodge newly developed by Rudolf John. It emphasized the form of the nobility service. The well-known glass series, such as the nobility service with new cut shapes, such as the diamond cut, were offered. The Maria Theresia service was reshaped somewhat. The conical cupola was replaced by a domed one. We still offer this newly designed service today. The company continued to sell the series with the conical wall shape under the name of Prinz Eugen. The following glass series were also offered: Maria Antoinette, Kurfürstengläser, Royal, Britania and Alt Wien. In addition to the glass series, liqueur series with bottles and mugs, vases, bowls and candlesticks were part of E. Stanka's product range.

The Stanka glassworks also distinguished itself for its excellent engravings. The two special designs "Mozart Vase" and the "Beethoven Plate" are exceptional examples of this. These pieces were so valuable that a smart thief stole the Mozart vase at the 1968 Hanover Fair.

E. Stanka's sales were carried out by sales representatives, among others. They visited the customers to present the latest products on site. However, there were also numerous advertising partners. The refinery provided glasses for advertising purposes. These partners included the Pottrum, the Egyptian cigarette company Finas, the vitamin drink from Schneekoppe and the cigarette company Reemsta.

Due to the different marketing strategies of the John family, the Stanka brand gains great fame. The following prominent customers belonged to the circle of buyers of these glasses: Duke Max in Bavaria - the former chief of staff in the White House, Donald Regan, the Vaduz castle in Liechtenstein, Tiffanys in New York, the German embassy in London and New Delhi, the Federal President's Office, the German Bundestag, the permanent representation of the FRG in the USA, the Holy See - the embassy residence in Rome and the Prime Minister of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

At the beginning of the 1980s, the glass refinery E. Stanka won the tender by the Federal Foreign Office to refurbish Augustusburg Castle in Brühl with a glass service. 320 pieces of the nobility service have since been used for various state receptions. In addition to Queen Elizabeth II, King Albert II of Belgium, Mikhail Gorbachev and Nelson Mandela, various sizes from politics and society drank from our glasses.

For reasons of age, the John family gave up Emanuel Stanka at the beginning of 1999. The brands and product rights were sold to the Görner family with effect from March 1st, 1999.

GÖRNER
1999 – 2018