Founded in 1875 in the Loire Valley of France, the Manufacture de Digoin ceramics factory was given a new life in 2014 when Corinne Jourdain, a Parisian marketing and communications specialist with passion for old-fashioned French craftsmanship, reopened the sleeping factory. Once a family business, the factory had a long and rich history, with hundreds of old moulds and models in its warehouses that had not been used for decades. Of those moulds Corinne Jourdain chose the ones she liked best and also introduced a new range of colours. The dishes have a fascinating and personal look, as some surfaces are glazed with clear and glossy glaze, others with matt glaze or some surfaces have no glaze at all. The result is delightful classics with a modern twist!
Handmade tableware is made from clay mixed in the factory with natural French mineral materials. Ceramics are fired at a high temperature of 1250C. Dishes of stone ceramic are well suited for cooking and storing food. Pitchers keep cold drinks cooler for longer than pitchers made from other materials. Ceramic containers also prevent the spread of odors from the food being stored, which is why the ceramic bottles and jars produced by the factory have long been used by distilleries and canning companies.
All dishes are microwave safe and can be washed in the dishwasher.
Oven dishes are ovenproof up to 220C.
These charming French dishes can be found in the ‘deDigoin’ section of our online shop!
Boleslawiec & Ceramics
The town of Boleslawiec and its surrounding areas have been producing ceramic products since the Middle Ages. The soils of the area are rich with clay – perfect for pottery! The town has a charming center in addition to its ceramics factories. Houses in beautiful colors outline a market square filled with restaurants and cafes. The town has a rich history which can be learned about in the History Museum.
Ceramics have a significant role in the history of this area, which can be admired in the Ceramics Museum. This museum showcases rare ceramics that help trace back the development of techniques and decorating of dishes and patterns. Some of the oldest pieces are from the 1800s! A few of the patterns shown in the museum are still being produced today, but with a modern twist. These patterns are called “Muzealna”, which fittingly translates to “Museum”.
Hand-decorated ceramics
Our collection is carefully thought out by combining dish forms with unique patterns that we hope our customers will love. This can be a long process, as the factory we order from, Ceramica Artystyczna, offers 1400 different dishes, and their design selection is currently made up of more than 7000 different patterns and artwork. As you can imagine, finding the perfect matches takes some consideration!
The following video shows the full cycle of creating a jug – designing, molding, firing, decorating, and glazing.
The Ceramica Artystyczna factory continued the production in 1950, which was paused during World War II. Before the war, the town of Boleslawiec was a part of Germany and was known by the name of Bunzlau. This is why Boleslawiec ceramics are also known as Bunzlau ceramics.
More than 200 people produce and hand-decorate the ceramic dishes. In addition to the traditional circle and polka dot patterns, inspiration for designs are be found in nature: leaves, flowers, butterflies, dragonflies, feathers, etc. The most famous design is the blue-and-white “peacock” Over the years, Ceramica Artystyczna has received various national and international awards and recognitions for their beautiful, sustainable, and quality ceramic products.
For more mesmerizing decorating, we recommend watching this video!
Quality & production
Over the years Ceramica Artystyczna has received various awards and recognition for their quality products. The pottery is created with the use of molds, sanded for a smooth finish, and hand-decorated with brushes and stamps. The ceramic production uses colors that do not contain cadmium. The pottery is painted and decorated after the first round in the kiln. The second round in the kiln lasts 15 hours at 1240C. The ceramics become very durable:
– it stands oven temperatures up to 290C
– the pottery can be used in a microwave
– it is dishwasher friendly
– the strong glaze withstands most scratches and makes the dishes easy to clean