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Clay modeling is one of the earliest remaining examples of self expression. Records of clay figures date them as far back as the twenty-fifth millennia BC. The tradition that lead to our present day Polish Pottery began in the Neolithic period. Pottery developed about the same time people moved from a hunting gathering society to an agricultural based economy. Which makes sense, of course. As much as you love your Polish pottery, would you want to lug it along on daily food foraging treks or strapped to your back on long journeys? Me either. The earliest example of household pottery is in the Middle East during the 8th millenium and always in connection to permanent homesteads. Perhaps this is part of why we are so attached to our pottery-- it represents a secure home. The basic principals behind pottery making remain the same to this day, though the techniques and technology are vastly improved. | |
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Potters guilds were organized as early as 1511 in the Silsian region. Hand-rolled utilitarian pieces were decorated with white ornamentation. The oldest surviving piece dates to 1711 and is housed in a museum. The Bunzlauer style pottery evolved through the Renaissance and Barroque periods, taking on the "Peacock" look it is now known for around 1830's. The school of ceramics in Bunzlau (the name Bolesalwiec was originally known as) was opened in 1897 to train artists to achieve the high standards for which Polish Pottery is now famous. WWII, communism, and regional taste affected the look and production of various patterns until the fall of the iron curtain. Now that the artists have more freedom to express themselves, we are experiencing a resurge of the beautiful traditional designs, as well as exciting new ones. Zaklady, the oldest and largest of the cooperative factories opened in 1946, is still creating the finest Pottery by the best artists today. | |
The history of Boleslawiec has been closely tied up with the pottery craft for over 350 years.The region of the town and neighbourhood in the basin of the rivers Bobr (means beaver where crowds of these animals used to live there) and Kwisa abounds in rich sources of clay which lends itself very well to production of pottery in the temperature of 1280-1300 C (2370 F). )
There are also different types of clay used for glazing, which result in a brown, slightly glossy surface. It is the so called - clay glaze, typical of products made in Boleslawiec. he first mention of a potter from Boleslawiec can be found in the municipal books of Swidnica (one of the oldest cities in the region) already in 1380. Potterers unified themselves into a craft at the beginning of 16th century. )
The oldest items that can be seen in the Museum of Ceramics date from first half o 18th century. They are hand-made pitchers covered with brown clay glaze (typical for the old Boleslawiec pottery). The lids made of tin are fastened to the ear of the pitcher. )
Pitchers decorated with white sticks come from the second half of 18 and 19 centuries.Great popularity was also enjoyed by coffee pots decorated with emblems - like Adam & Eve (potters emblem), heraldic signs, city emblems. That time by the local famous pottery master J.G. Altman a white clay was introduced for wider use not only for decorations.In the second half of 19 century, white vessels covered with a colourful decorations appeared. The patterns were initially put on the surface by a sponge, later with a rubber stamp. In 1897 in Boleslawiec a Professional School of Ceramics was established contributing to the common description of "town of good clay". Up to 1945 the main manufactures were: Julius Paul, Reinhold Company, Carl Werner. In 1936 6 ceramics workshops established cooperative called: "Bunzlauer Braunzeug" - brown pots with white decoration made by the means of stake. During the war the whole region and workshops were destroyed. After the war the two big companies emerged : Ceramika Artystyczna and Zaklady Ceramiczne. But in the region there are up to 10 smaller private workshops producing the Polish Pottery along classic or new patterns. | ||
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| Polish pottery from turn of XIX/XX ages | ..from twenties of XX century | ..from thirties of XX century |