Jaroslav and Franta Anýžovi

20th century

That the apple does not fall far from the tree is proven by the success of the Anýž family even twice. Franta Anýž was originally a renowned medallist and chandler whose work included designing and manufacturing jewellery and other applied objects. Thanks to his precision and diligence, in 1910 he opened a factory in Holešovice, Prague, which specialized in the processing of art objects made of metal. Franta Anýž was a member of the Mánes Society of Artists, which undoubtedly provided him with a good supply of contacts and commissions. The factory soon gained fame, thanks to which many of our leading artists and architects commissioned Anýž to realise their designs.

In the early days, Anýž's company had significant orders for equipment for new buildings. Anýž supplied wrought-iron grilles, fittings, chandeliers and other elements for the interiors and exteriors of theatres and the Municipal House. A large part of the company's production became lighting fixtures. On the one hand, they designed lavish chandeliers for important interiors, on the other simple electric lamps for households. The elegant table lamp N° 5839, with a shade of frosted milk glass, was even used by the architect Adolf Loos for the interior of Müller's villa in Prague.Franta Anýž's sons, the elder Jaroslav and the younger František, grew up in the hustle and bustle of the factory and watched their father's business grow in size and importance. As a result, they also met famous sculptors and architects from an early age. Both of them later represented their father in the company and took over the management of the business after his death. In his father's company, Jaroslav Anýž was mainly engaged in the design and construction of modern, simple and effective lighting fixtures. The luminaires and the phenomenon of light accompanied Jaroslav Anýž throughout his career. He has devoted himself to the development and research of airport traffic lights, lighting fixtures for hospitals, operating theatres and many other institutions, as well as public lighting in cities. In the 1950s and 1960s, as a promoter of proper lighting, he contributed articles to magazines on the subject of proper lighting for homes and offices. Author.