One minute. Seven objects. A world of unexpected connections.

That’s exactly what you’ll find in the video series Art in 60 Seconds—a quick trip behind the scenes of the Lobkowicz Collections, where every object has a story.

And all it takes is one minute to dive in and discover more about history and art.

What will you learn? For example:

- A balloon-shaped inkwell was likely hand-carved by a member of the Lobkowicz family.

- A bezoar—a stone from an animal’s stomach—was once believed to cure any poison.

- A bourdaloue may look like a gravy boat, but it’s actually a ladies’ chamber pot.

- A xylotheque is a book made of wood, that tells stories about wood.

- Glückhaus is a medieval gambling game once played in taverns and castles alike.

- The story of David and Goliath inspired Renaissance paintings and countless other works.

- Cats and monkeys were symbols of human society in the eyes of a master Flemish painter.

And that’s just the beginning. All you need is 60 seconds to start watching—and discovering.

Inkwell Balloon

A wooden inkwell from the Lobkowicz Collection? Hand-carved by a prince who sponsored Beethoven—and shaped like a Montgolfier brothers’ hot air balloon! Press it, and it unfolds like a flower—revealing ink, wax, and a slot for a quill. Classic 18th-century multitasking.

See this unique inkwell up close at the temporary exhibition From Inkwell to Typewriter at the Lobkowicz Palace.

The Exhibition

Bezoar

A stone-like lump of undigested food and animal hair found in the stomach of goats might not look or sound appealing, but it was prized as an antidote in pharmaceutics and alchemy throughout history. 

Bourdaloue

This porcelain dish may remind you of a family feast, with a roast accompanied by a delicious sauce poured from this elegant gravy boat. But STOP! You would never want to use this on your dining table! Why? Because it is a woman’s chamber-pot or what we might call a portable toilet.

Xylotheque

Have you ever heard of xylotheque? These wondrous wooden books are made from the bark of trees, but what hides inside of them is even more fascinating...

Glückhaus

Even in the 15th century, people loved playing boardgames as much as today. Gluckhaus is a German gambling game once played by tavern-goers and soldiers. It is truly a game for the ages.

David with the Head of Goliath

Let’s revisit the story of David—the underdog who triumphed against all odds—brought to life in the mid-16th century by Italian Renaissance painter Paolo Veronese. We’ll also show you where to spot Goliath’s severed head in the painting, on view in the permanent exhibition at Nelahozeves Castle.

Cats & Monkeys

While we may think we are civilized human beings, we are never far from our more primal, animalistic instincts…Flemish painter Sebastian Vrancx, who famously depicted animal subjects as humans, reminds us of this in a series of satirical paintings showing wild cats and monkeys indulging, gloating, and wreaking havoc.