Is Polish Pottery really hand painted?
Today Polish Pottery continues to be made in the same area of Poland, and is still hand-made and hand painted. In the 21st Century Polish Pottery is growing in popularity across the world.
Stickers. Polish pottery has different colored stickers to signify their quality levels. Blue and white stickers are used for authentic Quality 1 ceramics. Blue stickers are for pottery purchased directly from the Polish factory stores, while the white stickers are for pottery ordered for commercial production.
Polish pottery is created from white clay that is found only in the Boleslawiec region of Poland. The pottery is fired in coal and gas ovens at temperatures in excess of 2200 degrees Fahrenheit with a glaze that is lead and cadmium free.
All Polish pottery – traditional and UNIKAT- is hand-made.
Traditional polish pottery is made with rich clay that is found in Boleslawiec. The clay is formed at high temperatures as it is baked at 2246 degrees Fahrenheit, making it hard, durable, and non-porous. After the firing process, artisans manually work on the pieces, hand-stamping and hand-painting them.
While every piece of Polish pottery is lovingly handmade and hand-painted, the price varies greatly depending on the level of artistry, determined by the intricacy and difficulty involved in producing each particular piece.
When a ceramics artist has been deemed accomplished enough they earn the right to create a piece from start to finish and to be able to sign it. These pieces are stamped with UNIKAT on the bottom and are more rare and of better quality and therefore command a higher price.
Polish pottery is known for it's versatility in that it is safe for use in the dishwasher, microwave, freezer and oven. Also, Polish Pottery is resilient to abrasives making it durable and resistant to scratching or chipping. It is this combination of function and beauty that makes Polish pottery so appealing.
The Best of Polish Pottery
Ceramika Artystyczna (CA) is a world renowned maker of hand painted stoneware from Boleslawiec, Poland. Stoneware made by CA is of the highest quality and most exquisite and unique artistry.
Care & Use. Polish pottery is safe for use in the microwave, freezer, oven and dishwasher.
What is the oldest Polish pottery?
It is thought that crude pottery making in the Silesian region may have taken place as early as the 7th century. However, according to the Muzeum Ceramika (Museum of Ceramics) in Bolesławiec, Poland, the first historical record of a ceramic artist comes from the town of Swidnica's municipal books in the year 1380.
Polish pottery comes in two distinct types of patterns – Traditional and Unikat.
Polish Pottery is safe for the oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher! Polish Pottery is safe for the oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher! The stoneware distributes heat evenly for perfect baking, and the nonstick surface makes clean-up easy.
Polish Pottery is highly durable and safe for food as it is chip and scratch resistant and cadmium and lead-free. As stoneware, Polish Pottery distributes heat evenly for perfect baking and roasting and keeps your salads cold from refrigerator to table. Best of all, Polish Pottery is very easy to clean!
There are a number of valuable pottery marks, but some of the most sought-after include Meissen, Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, and Limoges. Each of these marks signifies a certain level of quality and craftsmanship, and collectors are willing to pay top dollar for pieces that bear them.
After washing, make sure the pottery is totally dry before placing in the oven or microwave as any moisture left in the pottery will cause cracking. Do not place hot dishes on a wet surface or handle with a wet cloth. The hot dish may break when touching the colder water.
Some pieces of pottery are very valuable, while others are close to worthless. The value of art pottery can be determined using criteria like the condition of the piece, its condition, rarity, desirability, authenticity, provenance, and aesthetics.
If you have a taste for Polish pottery, here is the trip for you! Boleslawiec, Poland, home of the famous Polish pottery, is a quiet but hospitable town lined with many pottery factories, shops, restaurants and bars.
There are a few ways to tell if a piece of pottery is valuable. First, look for a maker's mark or another stamp that indicates the piece was made by a reputable manufacturer. Second, assess the condition of the piece — pristine examples will be worth more than those that are chipped or cracked.
Unikat, or signature, pieces have the pattern number and the name of the artist who designed the pattern stamped on the back of the piece. The name of the artist who designed the pattern is the "signature". The artist who paints the piece is very, very rarely the artist who designed the pattern.
What is special about Polish Pottery?
Polish pottery is known for it's versatility in that it is safe for use in the dishwasher, microwave, freezer and oven. Also, Polish Pottery is resilient to abrasives making it durable and resistant to scratching or chipping. It is this combination of function and beauty that makes Polish pottery so appealing.
The best way to determine whether a piece of pottery is American is to look at the bottom of the piece. For American pottery, the bottom tells more than just the glaze type used on the piece. It also tells the color of the clay and how it was fired.
