Factory Vase
ABOUT THE PRODUCT
design: Milan Pekař, 2006
material: porcelain
dimensions: 11 x 8,3 x 26 cm
limited edition of 5 pieces
The porcelain vase in the shape of a factory chimney and building ironically recalls the symbols of the industrial era that shaped the landscape and society. However, it is not smoke that comes out of the narrow "chimney," but flowers—an image of nature that, despite human activity, is coming back to life. The object thus combines the austere aesthetics of industrial architecture with the poetics of fragile flora and encourages reflection on how our present and future can be shaped by a more considerate approach to the environment.
About the Designer
Milan Pekař (*1980, Prague) is a Czech ceramic designer, ceramist, and university lecturer. He graduated from the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, and during his studies he also drew inspiration from the University of Art and Design in Helsinki. He worked as an assistant to Prof. Maxim Velčovský in the Ceramics and Porcelain Studio at UMPRUM, and has been an associate professor since 2011. In 2009, he founded his own Milan Pekař Studio, where he focuses on the production of porcelain vases with unique crystalline glazes. Among other things, he was nominated for the Czech Grand Design 2014 award and the Public Award for his work.
ABOUT THE BRAND
Qubus is the first post-revolution independent design brand and studio in the Czech Republic, featuring the country's first design shop with its own production.
Since its inception in 2002, it has been located at Rámová 3, Prague 1. From luxury collectible objects to everyday design products, Qubus is renowned for its imaginative style that ironically and humorously pushes the boundaries of personal taste.
The brand was founded in 2002 by sculptor and designer Jakub Berdych Karpelis (1971), who invited Maxim Velčovský (1976), then a fresh graduate of UMPRUM, to collaborate.
That same year, the duo opened the Qubus showroom. They managed the brand together until 2010, when Maxim departed for Lasvit, where he remains today. Jakub Berdych Karpelis continues as the owner, art director, and chief designer of his own brand.
In 2023, Jakub was joined by curator, and creative producer Marcela Straková (1977). Together, they now lead the studio as an curator-designer duo, heading toward the 25th anniversary of Qubus in May 2026.
In addition to conceptual and product design, Qubus Studio also realizes projects in interior design and exhibition architecture. Qubus is both a recipient and a creator of several prestigious awards in the fields of culture, art, and design. Under the Qubus brand, numerous now-iconic installations, collections, and artworks have been created.
The studio’s products are characterized by the use of traditional materials, such as glass and porcelain, crafted in local workshops in collaboration with regional masters of their trade.
Since its early days, Qubus has invited other artists and designers to collaborate and expand its portfolio with original, limited-edition collections. The Qubus Design Studio thus serves as a creative platform not only for Jakub Berdych Karpelis but for other artists and designers as well.
All Qubus products are HANDMADE IN BOHEMIA – handcrafted in the Czech Republic.
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