The History of Polish Pottery

Potters' guilds, potatoes... and winter cold

Potters' guilds were organized as early as 1511 in Lower Silesia. In these early days, Polish Pottery was crafted by hand and decorated with a folk art stamping technique using potatoes. Farmers traditionally made pottery in the winter; cold weather halted work outside and farmers' families moved to handwork in front of their fireplaces. Polish Pottery from this period was typically simple - simple in design and simple in coloring. Many of the hand-rolled utilitarian pieces were decorated with white ornamentation, with the oldest surviving piece of this style dating to 1711 and today housed in a museum. The guilds provided norms for quality and design but, crafted in individual homes, each Polish Pottery bowl and plate were necessarily unique works of art.

Renaissance, Baroque (and other big words)

The Bunzlauer style of Polish Pottery evolved through the Renaissance and Baroque periods, taking on the Peacock look in the 1830's; amongst hundreds of patterns, this is now famous. The school of ceramics in Bunzlau (the name Boleslawiec was originally known as) was opened in 1897 to train artists to achieve the high standards for which Polish Pottery is now known around the world. World War II, the rise of Communism, and regional taste affected the look and production of various patterns until the fall of the Iron Curtain. Now that artists have more freedom to express their cultural heritage, there is a resurgence of traditional Polish Pottery designs as well as beautiful new ones.

Our world, sponges... and the potter's wheel today

Today, skilled Polish artists still individually handcraft and decorate each piece of pottery, but instead of potatoes, small sea sponges are now used to stamp each pattern and color. Polish Pottery is made from white clay indigenous to the Boleslawiec area and prized for its workable and durable qualities. Molds are used for some pieces, while plates are still usually made on a pottery wheel, with the moist clay circling rapidly under the potter's skilled hands. Whether by mold or by wheel, each piece comes to life under the eye of an craftsman before receiving its final coat of painted beauty. The artists who paint Polish Pottery are trained for years and the most highly accomplished artisans earn the privilege of creating their own work from start to finish. Their pieces are signed, typically on the bottom, and designated as Unikat, which simply means unique. Because of the time and artistic talent required for Unikat pieces, they are rare and command higher prices. They are truly collectors' pieces. Florence Adams is proud to offer many Unikat pieces amongst our stock.

Practicalities: firing, uses and ever-important cleanup!

After mixing ingredients, molding the pottery, and applying the decorations, Polish Pottery is kiln-fired. In regions of the world with clay and mineral material of lesser quality than that of Poland, pottery is fired at temperatures between 800 and 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. This produces a slightly porous product often called terra cotta or earthenware. The clay deposits of Lower Silesia allow Polish Pottery to be fired near 2000 degrees Fahrenheit, which produces tough, age-defying stoneware. The pottery is finished with a glaze which is a specialized form of glass - that is, a thin coating of material that during firing forms a glass coating. Painted decorations are under the lead-free glaze, insuring that the pottery is non-toxic and immune to abrasives. This intense twice-fired process makes the Polish Pottery extremely durable; it will not crack or chip easily and can be safely used in the microwave, dishwasher, oven and freezer. Clean-up is easy, with no pan preparation, though we always encourage customers to treat their artistic investment with gentle care. This way, your pieces may one day reside in a museum to be admired by future generations!

Polish Pottery factories, differentiation, and beauty

There are several factories in the city of Boleslawiec and the Silesia region which make Polish Pottery. While in competition with each other, each factory essentially uses the same raw materials and time-honored techniques to craft the pottery; they differentiate themselves from one another by offering unique patterns and shapes to satisfy individual tastes. While traditional patterns remain most popular, there are hundreds of patterns produced, and the creators of Florence Adams have traveled to Poland to bring you the best... and the most beautiful. We invite you to visit our gallery of travel pictures, but most of all, we encourage you to enjoy your unique collection of Polish Pottery!

James Vogel 11.05.06