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We offer only the finest Polish Pottery imported directly from Boleslawiec, Poland!
History of Polish Pottery Bunzlauer pottery experienced a renaissance in the early 1900's that introduced
the "Jugendstil" movement--the German equivalent of Art Nouveau. During this
time, the "Pfauenauge" or "Peacock's Eye" became the universally accepted trademark
decoration of the spongeware now produced in the area. The 1920's brought a
trend towards more colors in response to the Art Deco movement. After World
War II, the region of Silesia was annexed to Poland and the majority of the
German population was expelled. After the war, the region was rebuilt and pottery
factories soon reopened. Today in the small
village of Boleslawiec (pronounced "Bowl-slaw-ick"), Poland, skilled artists
still individually handcraft and
hand
paint each
piece of
pottery
using a
hand-stamping
technique
and free-hand design. UNIKAT (Signature) Series Polish Pottery Factories
Boleslawiec (Bunzlauer) stoneware originated as folk art in the early 1800's
in the German province of Silesia. The name Bunzlauer comes from the name
of the then German town of Bunzlau, which is now part of Polish town of Boleslawiec.
This city is located on the Bobr River in southwestern Poland near the German
and Czech border. This entire region has a history of pottery making dating
back to the early 7th century. Early pieces from the 1700's and 1800's were
used by farmers as storage pieces and had a chocolate colored glaze. At the
end
of the 19th century, the potters of Bunzlauer began to introduce new lines
of pottery intended for use in the parlor. At the same time, they began to
experiement with colored glazes, sponging techniques, and various decorations.
In 1898, the government established the "Keramische Fachschule" (Ceramic
Technical Training School) to foster development of the art.
When an artist achieves the highest level of accomplishment they earn the privilege
of creating their own work from start to finish and sign their work. The
work they produce is called UNIKAT in Polish, meaning unique. UNIKAT pieces
are rare and because of the artistic design, they command higher prices.
All UNIKAT pieces have the artists signature on the bottom. Please browse
our pieces from Zaklady Ceramiczne and Art Pottery to see these magnificent pieces!
- Ceramika
Artystyczna - While all ceramic factories in Boleslawiec produce
beautiful pieces, the artists associated with the Ceramika Artystyczna (CA) cooperative
produce an abundance of exquisite designs and pottery of the higest
caliber and quality. Ceramika Artystyczna has won several awards for
artistic design and quality. This particular pottery is made from whiter
and denser clay and incorporates more intricate designs and shapes. Many
traditional and contemporary patterns are available.
- Zaklady
Ceramiczne - is one of the oldest and largest stoneware
factories in Boleslawiec. The products of Zaklady Ceramiczne are renowned
for their beautiful hand-finish, original style and high practicality.
At the
present time,
we carry only pieces from their Signature Collection, meaning each
piece is crafted by a
master artisan and individually signed.
- Art
Pottery -
a small, family-owned factory in Boleslawiec. Each piece is unique
and individually signed by the artist. If you favor traditional designs
and colors, you will love our collection from Art Pottery! You will
be amazed by the intricate detail and high level of quality found in
each and every piece. We will be adding many new shapes in the near
future.
- Millennium
Ceramiczne -
the newest addition to our expanding line of fine Polish Pottery and
Stoneware! Polish Kitchen Online is one of the few online dealers to
offer this high quality and exquisitely designed pottery. We will be
adding more items to this collection in the future.
Durability & Use
This handmade and hand-painted pottery is fired at temperatures of 3,000 degrees
Farenheit, making it not only durable but impervious to abrasives and resistant
to cracks and chips. All pottery is intended for everyday use and is lead/cadmium
free. The glaze allows foods to release with little or no oil. All pieces
are safe for the refrigerator, oven, microwave and dishwasher. (Always allow
them to come to room temperature when going from the extreme of the refrigerator/freezer
to oven. Extreme temperature change will crack the pottery.