Czech Crown Jewels Within Reach

The exhibition is named after its most valuable exhibit, the collection of Czech Crown Jewels – their master replicas, including the medieval sceptre and orb of Charles IV, the Sword of Saint Wenceslas, and many others. You can explore the story of the Infant Jesus of Prague and his robes or the life of Empress Maria Theresa, the only queen of Bohemia. In a fun way, we will recall all 22 rulers, across five centuries, who were crowned as Bohemian kings.

The story of the Czech Crown Jewels is inseparable from the history of the Czech state. It began to unfold with the ruler Charles IV, when the Crown of Saint Wenceslas was enriched by other items, today forming the basis of the priceless Saint Vitus Treasure. Monarchs alternated on the throne for centuries, not only influencing the present-day form of our state but also the jewels. The medieval jewels (the crown, the sceptre, and the orb) were used during the coronations of Bohemian kings up to the early 17th century, and Holy Roman Emperor Matthias was the last sovereign depicted with these regalia. Throughout the Thirty Years' War, the sceptre and the orb were transferred to Vienna and have remained there until today. The new Renaissance sceptre and orb were made for Ferdinand I, and Ferdinand II was the first to have used the current collection. The Crown of Saint Wenceslas has remained the collection's official part for its historical and symbolic meaning.

As a rare occasion, the master replica of the Czech Crown Jewels and the sword will be accompanied by the master replica of the medieval sceptre and orb of Charles IV. After four centuries, the Crown of Saint Wenceslas will meet imaginarily with the coronation sword – in one place in the original collection.

The copies of artworks bring us much closer to the world of our ancestors. Therefore, we want to highlight the craftsmanship of artisans who produce replicas of artworks, otherwise impossible to be seen with our own eyes because they are extremely sensitive to the light, humidity, and temperature in exhibition areas.

Master Replica Makers

The jewellery-maker legend – Jiří Urban, one of the best Czech and European jewellers, has created brilliant replicas of the Crown Jewels. He made jewels, for example, for Queen Elizabeth II, a cross for Pope John Paul II, a replica of the Holy Roman Empire crown, and most recently replicas of the Crown of Aachen and the Iron Crown of Lombardy. Watch the video to view the production details.

In addition to Jiří Urban, Blanka and Matúš Cepek from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava produced replicas – they created the royal sceptre. The Cepek couple has achieved a reputation as top-class masters in the field. They have been collaborating with Mr Urban regularly; for example, they assisted him in making the world's best copy of the crown of the Holy Roman Empire.

The sword maker Patrick Bárta produced a copy of the Sword of Saint Wenceslas.