A seasonal treat at the MAK with a lovely little exhibition of Christmas tree decorations from Jablonec nad Nisou (German name Gablonz) in Czechia.
- Mostly made from inlaid glass beads and wire
- Many unexpected motifs
- Around 800 examples from 1920-1980
- A mix of art, design, and Christmas spirit
- Runs Sept 24, 2025 – Feb 1, 2026
- Book your MAK museum tickets*
- See also:
Sparkling Tree Decorations
(Wide view of the exhibition; press photo © MAK/Christian Mendez)
When the Japanese began making costume jewelry in earnest back in the day, the glass workshops of Bohemia (particularly Gablonz) saw their traditional export markets disappear.
But like all good entrepreneurs, they simply applied their expertise in another direction: Christmas tree decorations.
Fast forward many decades and we’re the beneficiaries of that decision: the Bicycle & Lobster exhibition at the MAK showcases the creativity and handcrafted artistry of the Gablonz workshops in a glittering display of around 800 such decorations from the years 1920 to 1980.
We have the generosity and expertise of Waltraud Neuwirth to thank for the opportunity. She donated her private collection of 3000+ such ornaments to the museum where she herself once worked as a curator.
(Lobster, Christmas tree decoration from Gablonz/Jablonec nad Nisou; glass beads and glass bugles with wire; press photo© MAK/Christian Mendez)
The broad exhibition display itself certainly conjures up an innocent Christmas spirit.
Light glistens on ornaments either artfully hung from thread or resting in presentation boxes much like those you might pull out when you start decorating the tree.
You almost expect to hear carols in the distance.
The exhibition room itself enhances that traditional Christmas feeling with its wooden spiral staircases, wood and glass display cabinets, and raised bookshelves all along one wall.
By now, though, you may be wondering about the title Bicycle & Lobster. If you think only of baubles and balls when it comes to Christmas tree decorations, then you’re in for a surprise.
(View of part of the exhibition; press photo © MAK/Christian Mendez)
The ornaments are largely constructed from inlaid glass beads and rods with (invisible) connecting wire. And they come in an astounding variety of motifs: some purely decorative, some symbolic, and some a mix of the two.
Consider the pieces a melting pot of industrial organisation, design, handicraft, and art. A coming together of form, colour and handcrafted ingenuity.
So you find the kind of figurative decorations you might expect: snowmen and Santa. But also figures from folklore. Bags, bicycles, and butterflies. Stars, scissors and spiders. Fish and fruit. And much more…including, of course, balls and baubles.
The large titular lobster, in particular, reveals the artistry and complexity behind the individual pieces.
What you won’t see, though, is an actual Christmas tree. The decorations have space and context to sparkle on their own.
And if all this has you hankering to design your own ornaments, two touchscreens let you do just that.
Dates, tickets & tips
Enjoy the sparkly joys from Gablonz from September 24th, 2025 to February 1st, 2026. An entrance ticket from or for the MAK includes the special exhibitions within.
(Booking service provided by Tiqets.com*, who I am an affiliate of)
Much of the exhibition obviously coincides with the Christmas season, so you’ll find huge swathes of handcrafted decorations at Vienna’s Christmas markets. I hear the MAK even plans its own version for a short period.
The Schönbrunn market, for example, intends to open on November 6th with most of the other big ones opening around November 14th. These all continue until at least December 23rd.
The nearest market to the MAK museum is the Stephansplatz one. But for the best decorations, I usually recommend the Schönbrunn and Freyung markets.
How to get to the decorations
See the main MAK article for travel tips. Once inside, go up one floor to find the Works on Paper room (Kunstblättersaal).
Address: Stubenring 5, 1010 Vienna