The story of the tableware
Boleslawiec and ceramics
Pottery has been produced in and around Boleslawiec since the Middle Ages. It has been a natural industry, as the soil in the area is rich in clay, which is ideal for making dishes. In addition to the dish factories and pottery workshops, Boleslawiec has a charming central town square – lined with beautiful pastel-colored buildings and many cafes and restaurants. The town museum offers an insight into Boleslawiec’s rich history.
Ceramics production has been an important part of the region's history and can be explored in the Ceramics Museum. Ceramic objects from different eras are on display. Exploring the collection gives a good idea of how different ceramic production and patterning techniques have developed over the years. The oldest objects in the museum date back to the 18th century. Some of the patterns on the dishes on display in the museum are still in production today, with some modifications. These traditional patterns are collectively known as 'muzealna', which means 'museum, belonging to a museum' in Finnish.
If you are interested in the history of ceramics, we recommend visiting the website of the Ceramika Artysytczna factory - there you can learn more about the history of ceramics.
Pattern
The factory was founded in 1950 to continue the production of ceramics, which suffered greatly during World War II. Before the war, the city of Boleslawiec was part of Germany and was known as Bunzlau. Because of this, Boleslawiec ceramics are also referred to as Bunzlau ceramics.
More than 200 people make ceramics every day. In addition to traditional circle and dot patterns, there are also patterns inspired by nature: tree leaves, flowers, butterflies, dragonflies, bird feathers, etc. The most famous pattern in Boleslawiec ceramics is the blue and white peacock eye. Over the years, Ceramica Artystyczna has received several national and international awards and recognitions for its beautiful and high-quality ceramics.
Patterning in practice
We highly recommend watching the following video if you want to be fascinated by the art of designing dishes!
Oven-safe up to 290 °C
The dishes can be used in the microwave oven
The dishes can be washed in the dishwasher.
High-quality glazing makes the dishes easy to clean
Quality and manufacturing
Over the years, Ceramica Artystyczna has received numerous national and international awards and recognitions for its beautiful and high-quality ceramics. The dishes are made using molds, polished and decorated by hand with stamps and brushes.
The pottery is patterned with lead- and cadmium-free colors. The pottery is patterned and glazed after the first, or raw, firing. The second firing lasts 15 hours in a kiln at 1240C. The ceramics become particularly durable.