
In 1862 Friedrich Wilhelm Heckert comes from Berlin to Piechowice (former Petersdorf - German Silesia prior to 1945. After World War II the region was placed under Polish administration and ethnically cleansed according to the post-war Potsdam Agreement. The native German populace was expelled and replaced with Poles.) and bought the glass grinding shop called “Falsenmuhle” that was situated near the Kamienna river from Benjamin Matterne.

Then in 1866 he builds the refinery which specializes in the treatment of the chandeliers parts and in the production of crystal mirrors.
From the glassworks advertisements it appears that the glassworks produced coloured and crystal glass, which were ornamented with paintings, gildings, polishings and engravings. The greatness of the glassworks in Piechowice is subscribed to German and Bohemian masters of glasswork.

In 1923 the Fritz Heckert's Glassworks in Piechowice joins to the JOSEPHINE Glassworks and Kynast Kristal Neumann & Staebe in Sobieszów entered into joint-stock company called Jo-He-Ky AG. Due to an economic crisis and inflation after the World War I, the “Josephinehutte” in Szklarska Poręba, glassworks in Sobieszów and Heckert’s mill in Piechowice were integrated and together created a stock company called “Josephinenhutte-Heckert-Kynast Kristallwerke A.G.” (its abbreviation is Jo-He-Ky).Since this moment on the two biggest glassworks in Karkonosze (Giant Mountains) are represented by one trade mark JOSEPHINE and together win the worlds' markets.
After World War II when Silesia is handed over to Poland, Josephine with its two glassworks in Szklarska Poręba and Piechowice continues its production. Polish glassworkers and adornment men learn from their German masters. After the World War II, the glassworks in Piechowice temporarily stopped its production. In July 1949 the glassworks complex was created by the integration of the two crystal glass grinding shops from Piechowice and Sobieszów, which became the divisions of the glassworks in Szklarska Poręba. The official name of this company was: Jeleniogórskie Zjednoczone Zakłady Szklarskie, przedsiębiorstwo państwowe wyodrębnione, Huta i Szlifiernia Szkła Kryształowego „Józefina” w Szklarskiej Porębie z Oddziałami w Piechowicach i Sobieszowie. In 1956 there was a glassworks opened in Piechowice. Together with the local grinding shop, the mill was still under the authority of the glassworks in Szklarska Poręba but its name was changed into the Crystal Glass Glassworks “Julia”.In 1958 the Josephine crystal glassworks in Karkonosze, takes the Polish name: JULIA. From this moment on the glassworks is promoted in Poland and on many markets of the World. In 2000 the glassworks in Szklarska Poręba is closed.
Julia factory becomes the only existing memorial after famous Josephine factory.
In 2000 the factory in Szklarska Poręba was closed, so Julia in Piechowice is the only living remnant of former Josephinhütte within the old walls of Fritz Heckert's factory.
Julia Glassworks in Piechowice, Poland.We toured the glassworks in 2014 and purchased glassware we saw being produced.This glassworks is only 15 minutes from the Czech border and is situated along the glass road of Europe. At least the glassworks is still in operation, and selling to the world, not just the communist iron countries. The Cold War is over, so hopefully that will never happen again. The long history of the Julia glassworks has been saved, through the changing political changes and empires and countries of the region. The only challenge left is the competition from cheap Chinese glassware that is flooding the market. The quality is not as good, the history is not there, so hopefully Julia glassworks will prevail through this economic crisis and survive, and will continue to bring high quality glassware to appreciative customers around the world. We will continue to lead trade missions to the factory every year, when we do our bead and button tour of the Czech Republic. Doing our bit to keep the history alive.
About the Creator
Guy lynn
born and raised in Southern Rhodesia, a British colony in Southern CentralAfrica.I lived in South Africa during the 1970’s, on the south coast,Natal .Emigrated to the U.S.A. In 1980, specifically The San Francisco Bay Area, California.




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