Polish Pottery from Boleslawiec ()
Any list of the best gifts from Poland will include cheese and vodka, amber jewelry, and pottery. Given a choice, the handmade Polish pottery, being both artistically beautiful and functional in a kitchen, is a clear winner.
Traditional pottery styles with dot patterns of indigo blue are still painted by hand in small family-run workshops in Bolesławiec, Poland. A day trip to this hub of Polish pottery will allow you to find one-of-a-kind pieces that make amazing gifts – whether for yourself or your loved ones.
A PREHISTORIC POTTERY HUB
Bolesławiec is a town in what used to be known as Silesia. This historical area, primarily in Poland, was likely named for the Silings tribe: one of the many groups collectively known as the Vandals who occupied the area during Roman times. Silesian pottery was taken with the Vandals as they pushed into the Roman Empire. But the history of pottery in Bolesławiec extends further back than that.
Natural clay deposits found near Bolesławiec have attracted people since prehistoric times. In fact, neolithic peoples lived in the region and their pottery is still a cultural marker for archaeologists. By the early Middle Ages, around 600 CE, the area was widely known for pottery. Bolesławiec was officially founded in the 1200s and has been part of many different nations including the Holy Roman Empire, the Hapsburg Empire and Prussia. The town and its pottery are still sometimes referred to by the German name Bunzlau.
GETTING TO BOŁESLAWIEC
Bolesławiec is in the western part of Poland about an hour’s drive south of Zagan and makes a great day trip by car. Parking is easily available at the pottery workshops. Driving also makes it easy to transport and stash your hefty gifts while looking for treasures at the next store.
The town is roughly three hours from Poznań or Łask, and about six hours from Redzikowo and the Baltic coast. There are plenty of overnight accommodations in town for those coming from further afield, and it makes a fun weekend trip.
Though the area around Bolesławiec is best known for its extensive pottery workshops, the scenic central square (Rynek) is worth visiting and a great place to grab a bite to eat.
THE HIGHEST QUALITY
Bolesławiec pottery is stoneware made from local clay and usually formed in a mold. They are first fired at a low 1500°F, then hand painted, dipped in a clear glaze and fired again at a scorching 2200°F.
Any pottery you buy in Bolesławiec will be hand-painted. You can check the bottom for a stamp with “Hand made in Poland” along with a signature or logo to verify authenticity. In addition, the Gat, or quality category, will be marked on the sticker label.
Gat 1 is the highest quality with no imperfections: food safe and usable in the oven, microwave, and dishwasher.
Gat 2 may have a slight painting error: food safe and usable in the oven, microwave, and dishwasher.
Gat 3 and Gat 4 may have cracks or glaze problems, so they can’t be heated but can still be used for food service and hand washed.
Gat 5 is not food safe and should only be used decoratively.
POLISH POTTERY PATTERNS
The oldest pottery in Bolesławiec was made of brown clay with a brown glaze, and this antique-style form can still be found in some shops today. Most folks, however, come for the colorfully painted white clay pottery in the form of bowls, plates, mugs and baking dishes.
The most traditional painting style is the royal blue peacock pattern. Using white dots on blue became extremely popular as the pottery guild of the 1650s expanded its market toward the excessively wealthy royalty of Europe. Since that time, other complementary colors like orange and yellow have been incorporated into the traditional dot painting patterns.
There are plenty of other pottery patterns to choose from. Modern workshops have incorporated traditional floral designs, animal motifs and lots of different colors. A good selection of holiday-inspired items are also available.
In addition, some places will offer “unikat” or unique pieces for higher prices. The patterns on these have been designed by an accomplished ceramics artist, hand painted by them and signed.
SHOPPING FOR POTTERY IN BOŁESLAWIEC
One of the coolest things about visiting Bolesławiec is buying pottery straight from the workshop where it was crafted. The workshops are at the edge of town and in the small surrounding villages. Many offer wholesale prices and affiliate discounts for those staying in local hotels. Large factory workshops, such as Manufaktura in Bolesławiec have factory tours, workshops for kids and adults and even small museums.
Bolesławiec also has numerous ceramic (ceramika) stores with large stocks of pottery pieces from one or many of the local workshops. These are primarily located along road 297 north of town and on Zgorzelecka street to the west.
Note that most of the stores and workshops are closed or have limited hours on Sundays.
Polish pottery makes an excellent souvenir or gift. It is not only beautiful but also durable and useful. Being stationed in Europe gives you the chance to travel to the pottery hub of Bolesławiec and hand-pick your own special pieces of useable art.
SHOPPING MAP
To help you navigate, Stars and Stripes Europe has put together a map of pottery workshops, stores, and other sites of interest in Bolesławiec.
