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After crystal is cut, the sharp edges have to be taken off. Most of the brand name crystal purveyors use an acid bath. Kurt leaves the sharp edges, but polishes off whatever he cuts into it. I think Waterford looks dull in comparison.

Governor Rod Blagojevich is the fourth Illinois chief executive, starting with Governor Thompson, to buy the crystal Strobach cuts. Visiting foreign dignitaries are among Blagojevich’s recipients. The wife of the Hungarian ambassador to the United States wrote Kurt a letter of appreciation.

While he was still Secretary of State, George Ryan used a Strobach bowl from which to draw the name of the Republican Party when agreement could not be reached on reapportionment.

Ryan’s wife Laura Lynn took pride in the book she stimulated, "Made in Illinois: An Artisan Gallery." It features Strobach and fellow Illinois artists and craftsmen are featured.

Kurt entered the family business in Bohemia, now part of the Czeck Republica. When the Communists took over, he revolted at the collectivization. It took decades before Kurt could return to his work full-time.



The prices quoted below have not been double checked with Kurt Strobach. I shall do so when he returns from Chicago tomorrow. They represent my best effort to decipher my notes.

This is a new cut which comes in 7 1/2" and 5 1/2" sizes. Until this year, Kurt has left the cuts sharp. In this piece, which I call the "Starburst," he has put a flat end where the sharp edges usually are. I think it increases the play of the light.

Here is another view of what I call the "Starburst."

This is a heavy bowl of intricate design have been ground to a quite thin thickness. It sells for $173 in Crystal Lake.

Note the circles around the center of this quite heavy piece. They are ground until the centers are quite thin. This piece is priced at $160 at Kurt's home.

These are each one of a kind. The vase of the left is priced at $195. The middle vase costs $219, while the flaired vase can be purchased for $445. Kurt prices his pieces at the cost of the crystal, plus the time he puts into cutting the pieces. I have bought three of his "one of a kinds." Don't tell my wife, but she is getting one for Christmas. (The color on the outside edges of the vases on the right and the left is from the natural wood at the side of the shelving.)

This is one of the simpler, yet elegant cuts that Kurt has made on many types of crystal. This approximately 15" vase is reasonably priced at $59 in Crystal Lake.

This is only one of these 15" long stem flower vases. It is Kurt's most expensive, costing $445. It is available only in Crystal Lake. (This one has been sold since this article was written.)

This wavy topped vase is intricately cut. If my notes are correct, it costs $219.

This leaf motif 7 1/2" bowl has a Crystal Lake price of $86.

Here are three glasses and four decanters. From left to right, the prices are $21 for each of the Austrian glasses, $169 for the German decanter,$42 for the one from Italy, $158 for the next German decanter, $57 for the Czech decanter and $17 for the Portuguese glass.

More decanters. From left to right, crystal from German priced at $94; $49 for one from Italy; $148 for the next German one; $49 for fourth one from the left, also from Germany; $83 for one made in Italy; and, finally, $44 for the one on the right, which is also from Italy.

I call the large, simply cut bowl on the right the "Wedding Bowl." That's because we give them to newlyweds. I have enough downstairs to give to all of my neices and nephews, except the great nephew born last month. It's a great buy at $69 in Crystal Lake. (There may be a better view on the top shelf in Springfield's Artisan Store.) The blue trimmed bowl on the left costs $69. It is from Poland.

On top is a better view of the bowl I've dubbed the "Wedding Bowl." It sits nicely in the center of a coffee table, easily dominating everything else.

If what you have seen so far is too pricy, take a look at these. All are from Poland, except the one on the right, which is Chech. The price for the one on the left, which has an up and down cut which widens at the bottom is $28. The next one Kurt calls a "fish" cut. I think it looks like ocean waves when viewed from the side. (This photo does not do it justice.) Next is one with a leaf design, which, unfortenately, cannot be seen. Finally, there is a straight line candy bowl for $22. Although inexpensive, it is elegant. (Remember, Kurt's pricing is based on what the uncut crystal costs, plus the time he puts into each piece.)

Each of these bowls are from Poland. The one on the left costs $69. The one in the middle is priced at $86. You can have the one on the right for $49 in Crystal Lake.

Again, all on this shelf are from Poland. They are heavy pieces. The smallest, as you would expect the cheapest. The bowl has a leaf design and sells for $55. The middle vase took the most work and sells for $159. The largest is covered with Kurt's simple, yet stunning straight line design. It's priced for $73--a steal when compared to something its size elsewhere. (Again the colors on the left and right pieces reflect the wood in the shelving.)

Pitchers, all from Poland and reasonably priced. $46 for the one on the left and in the middle, $39 for the one on the right with the straight cut. Doesn't the mirror underneath enhance the crystal? (Kurt made even a more beautiful cut for our wedding, but it was so difficult he vowed never to do it again.)

Ice buckets here,the two on the left ($36 & $46) from Poland, the one on the right from Germany ($39).

Two wine carafes on the left from Poland priced respectively $66 and $44. The vase is from Romania and costs $29. The unique oval bowl is cut on a slant from crystal made in Poland. Its price is $55. (The photo does not do it justice.)

These three Polish bowls are priced $56, $87 and $72. The one on the left has what Kurt calls a "fish" cut. (That's the one I think looks like ocean waves.) There is a candle in the middle one. Again, remember the price represents the cost of the uncut crystal, plus the work Kurt puts into the piece.

A Polish wine carafe with three Italian wine glasses to the right. When I asked where the glass on the left came from, Kurt said, "Ikea." He said that was the last he was buying from there, but this is an indication that if you have uncut crystal from any source, Kurt can work his magic on it, if you work up courage to ask him. The carafe costs $43. All the glasses except the Ikea one are $6. The Ikea one costs $5.

Glasses displayed on the top shelf of the State Museum's Artisan Store in Spingfield.


Dressed in her Christman sweater vest, Mrs. Strobach (Erna) holds a glass that comes in a set of four, along with a small ice bucket. They are from Krosno, Poland. The cost is $144.

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