Uploaded May 2016 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
ABOUT MEMENTO MORI
The macabre Czech masterpiece known as the Sedlec Ossuary (near Kutna Hora) is one of twelve World Heritage Sites in the Czech Republic. It is estimated to contain the skeletons of between 40,000 and 70,000 people, whose bones were artistically arranged by Frantisek Rint to form chapel decorations in 1870. Maxim Velčovský pays homage to Rint’s actual bone chandeliers by imprinting their shapes into a glass form. The Latin phrase Memento Mori, reminding us to ‘remember death,’ became the essence of this object. It symbolizes birth and death as well as the disappearing crafts that are passed from generation to generation in Europe. Small parts are made by glass pressing, large parts are hand-blown and the chains created by small “bones” paraphrase the “immortal” classical chandeliers.
ABOUT MAXIM VELČOVSKÝ
Maxim Velčovský completed his studies at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, in 2002 becoming co-founder of the Qubus design studio. He participated in ninety joint exhibitions and his works are included in the collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, The New Pinakothek in Munich, the Museum of Art and Design in Prague and the Design Museum in Lausanne. In 2007 he won Designer of the Year award. In 2011 became Art Director of Lasvit, also heading the Ceramics and Porcelain Atelier of the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague.
ABOUT MEMENTO MORI
The macabre Czech masterpiece known as the Sedlec Ossuary (near Kutna Hora) is one of twelve World Heritage Sites in the Czech Republic. It is estimated to contain the skeletons of between 40,000 and 70,000 people, whose bones were artistically arranged by Frantisek Rint to form chapel decorations in 1870. Maxim Velčovský pays homage to Rint’s actual bone chandeliers by imprinting their shapes into a glass form. The Latin phrase Memento Mori, reminding us to ‘remember death,’ became the essence of this object. It symbolizes birth and death as well as the disappearing crafts that are passed from generation to generation in Europe. Small parts are made by glass pressing, large parts are hand-blown and the chains created by small “bones” paraphrase the “immortal” classical chandeliers.
ABOUT MAXIM VELČOVSKÝ
Maxim Velčovský completed his studies at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, in 2002 becoming co-founder of the Qubus design studio. He participated in ninety joint exhibitions and his works are included in the collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, The New Pinakothek in Munich, the Museum of Art and Design in Prague and the Design Museum in Lausanne. In 2007 he won Designer of the Year award. In 2011 became Art Director of Lasvit, also heading the Ceramics and Porcelain Atelier of the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague.
