100 years of the Moser boutique in Prague

It remains here a century later, making it one of the longest, continuously operated shops in the city. Before then, Moser shops were only located in spa towns – in Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně, and Františkovy Lázně.

^{The Moser boutique on the ground floor of Černá růže shopping centre on Na Příkopě in 1925. The table features vases from the Fipop series, designed by Leo Moser. They came in deep colours, creating a contrasting substrate to the oroplastic décor. Source: Moser Archives}

In those days, Na Příkopě was one of the most prestigious streets in Prague, where luxurious stores, hotels, banks, and cafés resided. A focus on social life played out on this promenade, making it a major artery of the city.

^{Roger Egon Ritter, Moser Shop Manager during the First Republic era. Source: National Archives}

In 1929, Roger Egon Ritter became the shop manager in Prague, leading the boutique until 1938, when he moved to the USA. This exceedingly capable and elegant man was great at working with clients, setting a high sales culture. “The Moser boutique in Prague is visited in abundance by eminent persons. Even Prague diplomats jokingly declare it would be a sin against diplomatic protocol to not also be accredited by Moser in Prague.” (excerpt from the period press).

In 1931, the retail store Bohemia – Moser was opened in the new functionalist Kotva shopping centre on Revoluční Street, where premium porcelain from Nová Role was sold alongside luxurious crystal glass from Moser.

 ^{The Moser boutique in the Černá růže shopping centre, right before its expansion to the first floor. The sign above the entrance to the arcade reads: “We’re closing the boutique at Kotva”, and the adverts in the windows informed passers-by of the following: “Bohemia – Moser to be located here”. Source: Moser Archives}

Running two shops in Prague proved difficult, which is why the entire first floor above the original ground-floor space in the Černá růže shopping centre was rented out in 1934, and a single, large Bohemia – Moser shop was opened here in Prague.

^{Boutique interior in the 30s and 20s. Source: Moser Archives}

The first floor, which is a historic part of the boutique today, once belonged to the Bondys, a distinguished entrepreneurial family. Bohumil Bondy lived here with his wife, Simonetta (the letters ‘BSB’ on the inlaid doors still remind us of this fact today), and his sons, Otto and León. The original interiors constructed during 1884-1886 were preserved, having been designed by architect Josef Fanta, a family friend.

Bohumil Bondy built a well-known ironworks, acted as president of Prague’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was a member of the Prague City Council, and personally contributed to the expansion of the railway network in Austria-Hungary, the construction of the Holešovice Port in Prague, and the erection of the Prague gasworks building. He was also a significant patron, belonging to the founding members of the Museum of the Kingdom of Bohemia (now the National Museum), the Sokol Movement, the National Theatre Building Committee, and the Steamboat Company. He also donated large sums to charitable causes, collected works of art, and supported the Museum of Decorative Arts, to which he bequeathed his collections.

 ^{From the Elias Palme corporate catalogue. Source: Moser Archives}

The boutique was lit by luxurious crystal chandeliers, ordered by Roger Egon Ritter from Elias Palme of Kamenický Šenov. This renowned brand also hung crystal chandeliers in Milan’s opera house La Scala, the Royal Opera House in Rome, and the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York, as well as in palaces and theatres in Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin, Lisbon, Hamburg, Bombay, Ottawa, and Paris. These imposing crystal chandeliers from Elias Palme still adorn the Moser boutique in Prague today.

^{The same building that housed the Moser boutique during the days of the First Republic also contained the famous and luxurious Josef Lippert Delicatessen, where Vlasta Burian and other film stars frequented to buy delicacies. Source: Moser Archives}

The majority of business contacts with customers from diplomatic circles and heads of state were connected to the Bohemia – Moser shop in Prague. In 1936, glass sales from the Prague boutique accounted for nearly one-fourth of the whole company’s returns.

Then WWII arrived, turning everyone’s lives upside down, only to be followed by communism in 1948. Leo Moser and Roger Egon Ritter chose to stay in the USA.

^{Shop Manager of the Moser boutique in Prague and founder of the Giant Snifters Club, František Chocholatý. Source: Moser Archives}

František Chocholatý was undoubtedly the most significant figure of the Prague boutique during the post-war era, after becoming manager in 1953. He successfully revived severed business and social contacts as well as created new ones. In 1957, he founded the Giant Snifters Club, joined by an array of prominent individuals, including members of royal families, heads of state, diplomats, film stars, musicians, and famous athletes. This worked wonders to promote the Moser brand both at home and abroad.

^{The Bohemia – Moser shop in 1974, when it was part of Tuzex. Foreigners could buy crystal glass in foreign currencies here. Source: Moser Archives}

The foreign trade company Tuzex, which Moser joined, was also founded the same year as the Giant Snifters Club. Tuzex allowed foreigners to shop in foreign currencies, and its assortment primarily consisted of Czechoslovak products, with luxury crystal glass ranking amongst its most sought-after items. “Many clients make a stop at the boutique even when only driving (or, better yet, flying) through Prague; a 3-hour layover is all they need to travel to Na Příkopě, do their shopping, and make it back to the airport,” as recorded in the press in 1968. The boutique, however, always sold to local clients as well, who could shop here using Czechoslovak crowns.

^{The Moser boutique at Na Příkopě enchants visitors with its historic interiors, who feel like they’ve entered the rooms of a decorative palace. Photo: David Švehla}

Even after the Velvet Revolution, Moser’s boutique in Prague remained synonymous with the most luxurious, handmade crystal glass, and it was visited by an array of eminent figures, a reality affirmed by the signatures and messages left in the visitors’ book. For instance, the president’s wife, Olga Havlová, visited here while accompanied by Diana Sternberg, who helped her to newly furnish the interiors of Prague Castle and the presidential residence in Lány. Karl Gott was another loyal customer, and tennis player Martina Navrátilová, figure skater Ája Vrzáňová, and French actress Catherine Deneuve all shopped at the boutique. The descendants of Leo Moser and the Bondy family paid visits as well. To this day, the boutique has seen countless visits by government officials, diplomats, prominent figures from the world of culture and sports, as well as ordinary customers, enchanted by Moser’s hand-crafted crystal glass.

Excerpts from the Moser boutique’s visitors’ book

“I returned to find my great-grandfather Bohumil and great-grandmother Simonetta’s beautiful apartment. I’m very pleased to see it so wonderfully preserved.” (Your Gabriela Bondyová-Burke)

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You accepted my family with open arms. I’m looking forward to staying in touch.” (Marua Forman, Leo Moser’s granddaughter)

^{The company’s founder, Ludwig Moser, watches over the boutique’s day-to-day. Photo: David Švehla}