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"Keramika a Porcelán Ceský-Bohémský"
(Bohemian and Czechoslovakian Ceramics & Porcelain)
1939 New York World's Fair Czecho-slovakia Pavilion

Click images to enlarge

Photo of pavilion interior

1939 postcard with pavilion interior

Photo of pavilion interior

The 1,100 square foot Czecho-slovakia pavilion at the 1939 New York World's Fair had colored glass panel murals "Hymns of Work," reportedly made at a factory owned by Richard Dubsky in Nusli, Czechia. Frank Dubsky (Richard's son) supervised the installation. Additionally, there was a huge rug in the exhibition showing the magnificient accomplishments of the Czechoslovakia textile industry. The shoe king, Bata's life work and service to the world was portrayed in a 50,000 piece rare wood display of its home town Zlin, Czechia. There was also the "Old Prague Restaurant" and open-air beer garden. A sketch of the exterior of the 1939 New York World's Fair Czecho-slovakia Pavilion        Ladislav Sutnar, an information graphics designer, and a professor in Czechoslovakia, received the commission to design the Czechoslovakian exhibit at the 1939 New York World's Fair: "The World of Tomorrow." More information on Sutnar's involvement at: AIGA. The architects were Kamil Roscot & M. Polivka. Antonín Heythum and Kamil Rokot also participated in setting up the pavilion. Sutnar was an intriguing man; his many achievements also included designing porcelain for Royal Duchov and EPIAG Locket. Peek at his china design. The Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague has an online exhibit. (It loads slowly and is hard to figure out how to view, but worth it) September-November 1938, sections1 of Czecho-slovakia were ceded to Germany, Poland, and Hungary in attempt to avoid war. March 15, 1939, Nazi troops occupy the Sudetenland, the Bohemia and Moravia parts of Czechoslovakia2. When Hitler divided Czechoslovakia, it forced the Czechoslovakia pavilion to use the items it had already received. Sutnar was sent to New York by the German government to close the exhibit and return its treasures back to the occupied Czechoslovakia. Sutnar decided not to return home and did not send the display items to Germany3.     George J Janacek, its Commissioner General, was a part of the pavilions preparations from inception through the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia. Janacek refused to comply with the German orders to return the goods to the occupied Czechoslovakia, saying that to do so would to be to recognize the Nazis authority over the country. Items displayed or sold 1939 World's Fair in New York at the Czecho-slovakia pavilion 140 Piece Porcelain Set Click to see the set Bisque Doll Sold at Pavilion Click to enlarge image               Crystal Display Click to enlarge image Images of the exterior of the 1939 New York World's Fair Czecho-slovakia Pavilion Click image to enlarge     Photo of pavilion exterior Ironically, the planners of the Czechoslovakian building inscribed upon its facade: "After the Tempest of Wrath has Passed, the Rule of thy Country will Return to Thee, O Czech People." Location map of the 1939 World's New York World's Fair Exhibits Click image to enlarge     Click image to enlarge A postage stamp sold at the 1939 New York World's Fair Czecho-slovakia Pavilion. It raised money for the exiled government. Despite Germany's orders to close the pavilion, the exiled President of Czecho-slovakia, Edvard Bene, was present at the Fair's opening April 30, 1939. Bene announced, "Czechoslovakia is still alive. It will continue to live. And this building is proof of that fact!" The pavilion sold souvenir sheets of stamps from 1937-1939 with a World's Fair overstamp to support the Czechoslovakia government in exile. Here is an article by Mirko Vondra who visited the pavilion many times.     1939 Czechoslovakian New York World's Fair Souvenir Token. Click image to englarge     Click image to enlarge The front of the token has the words "Czechoslovakia Shall Be Free Again." The high relief image shows an allegorical Czechoslovakia bound by Nazi oppression with a mother holding an infant and a small child clinging to the soldier. The back has "March 15, 1939 Republika Czechoslovakia" and the Czechoslovakian Coat of Arms. 1939 Czechoslovakian New York World's Fair Pamphlet. Click image to englarge "Truth Prevails Czecho-Slovakia Will Rise Again Czecho-Slovak Pavilion New York World's Fair 1939" A two page pamphlet explaining that because of the Nazi invasion of Czecho-slovakia, the Czechslovakian pavilion was not finished. "The unfinished pavilion represents a symbol of the spirit and a symbol of the motto of the Republic that truth will ultimately triumph and that in a free Europe the Czechs and Slovaks will again breathe freely." A silent film of the 1939 Czecho-slovak pavilion This is a link to a site where you can watch a silent movie in color, showing the interior of the pavilion. The film is 20 minutes long, but you will see the Czecho-Slovak pavilion at about 6 minutes into the film. It uses RealPlayer or Windows Media Player. It will take a long time to download, be patient. Click the link, then choose your viewing method. Reel 4, Part 14 < Back to: Bohemian & Czechoslovakian China Support this site If you have information about the 1939 World's Fair Czechoslovakia Pavilion and its displays, please send me an email. Collector@ginni.com

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References: (The links open in a new window.)
¹Czechoslovakia map of land ceded: http://www.humboldt.edu/~rescuers/book/Chlup/chlupgif/czechmap2.html
²Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia: http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939
³AIGA Sutnar article: http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm?ContentID=654
⁴Internet Archive: "World of Tomorrow" http://www.archive.org

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