Bohuslav Horák, edition preceding the Anthologie Quartett

BOHUSLAV HORÁK (Pardubice, Czech Republic, 1954) for Anthologie Quartett.
“Kýč” mirror, designed in 1995.
Openwork, polychrome metal and mirror.
Handcrafted, with irregular finishes.
Features an identification plate bearing the designer’s name, “BOHUSLAV HORAK.”
In good condition, with slight signs of wear and a patina consistent with its age.
Measurements: 83 x 111 cm.

One of Bohuslav Horák’s most recognizable and enduring designs, the “Kýč” mirror particularly well encapsulates the transformation of the household object into a sculptural piece that characterizes his work from the 1990s. Conceived in 1995 and produced by the German firm Anthologie Quartett, the model remained in their catalog for years, where it appears in two different formats. The Křehký Gallery itself highlights it as one of Horák’s most notable creations, alongside the “Pupeny” chair and the “Stromek” coat rack.

The wide metal frame deliberately departs from the regularity of a conventional frame to become an organic surface, perforated by an irregular cellular pattern reminiscent of lace, fabric, or natural structures viewed under high magnification. The handcrafted execution is fundamental: the slight variations in the perforations and the pictorial treatment of the surface give each piece its own unique character. A greenish, iridescent polychrome coating spreads across the metal, revealing golden and earthy tones, reinforcing a deliberately ambiguous appearance that lies somewhere between plant matter, eroded metal, and a precious object.

The title “Kýč”—“kitsch” in Czech—introduces an ironic element fully in line with the designer’s postmodern sensibility: Horák reclaims ornamental exuberance and makes it the central element of a functional object, consciously moving away from rationalist austerity. The result occupies that intermediate territory between design, craftsmanship, and sculpture that defines much of his mature work.

Bohuslav Horák was a member of the Atika group and is one of the leading figures of Czech postmodern design. Since the early 1990s, he has maintained a close collaboration with Anthologie Quartett, for which he created furniture, lighting fixtures, and objects characterized by limited production runs, handcrafted metalwork, and a strong inspiration drawn from organic structures. Křehký describes him as a key figure in Czech postmodernism and specifically highlights the “Kýč” mirror as one of his most iconic designs. His work has been exhibited internationally at venues such as the Moss Gallery in New York, Driade in Rome, and the Limn Gallery in San Francisco.