GLASGALERIE HITTFELD

The Founder – Eliška Stölting

Eliška Stölting, born in 1944 near Prague, attended the Glass School in Železný Brod from 1958 to 1962. During this period, Prof. Stanislav Libenský, regarded as the primary initiator of the studio glass movement, was the school’s director. This era marked the inception of the studio glass movement. Her education at Železný Brod laid the foundation for Eliška Stölting’s deep connection to Czech glass art, sparking her interest and enhancing both her artistic and technical understanding of glass.

After completing her studies, Eliška Stölting worked at the glassworks in Nový Bor. Though she eventually pursued a different path, she continued to follow the development of the Czech glass scene and the careers of the artists she represented. From 1964 to 1968, she studied art education at Charles University in Prague. After graduation, she embarked on a career in art education.

In 1988, Eliška Stölting opened Glasgalerie Hittfeld, just outside Hamburg. Her many years of international success were acknowledged at the highest political levels. In 2006, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs awarded her the “Gratias Agit” for promoting the Czech Republic abroad, and in 2008, she received the “Medal of Merit” for her contributions to art.

Glasgalerie Hittfeld closed in 2017, marking the end of her active career. Eliška Stölting passed away in 2023, near Hamburg. Her son, Tom Stölting, has continued her legacy, upholding the high standards of quality she set, through Glasgalerie Stölting, which he opened in Hamburg’s HafenCity district in 2013.