The New Look of Polish Pottery - The Artist behind the Art

The New Look of Polish Pottery - The Artist behind the Art

RENESANS by DOROTA KOZIARA

On her last shopping trip to Poland, Gosia Rojek, Owner of Pas Par Tou fell in love with the clean, graphic patterns of designer Dorota Koziara. As an avid collector of Unique Polish Pottery, Gosia felt that this new interpretation would be a wonderful addition to the traditional patterns that she already sold. The beautiful collection is now available in the Greenport, NY location as well as online at www.pas-par-tou.com.

The Renesans Collection is the result of searching  for traditional pottery made by Bolesławiec  Manufactory and its modern interpretation.  The artist had decided to create a collection which  would constitute the modern interpretation  of pottery traditions present in Bolesławiec. Pottery  manufactured in accordance with traditional  formulas unchanged for many years, as well as  the tradition which has survived historical turmoil  and is still an element which develops the region’s  identity, were used as the starting point.

Renaissance, which means revival, is the  development of trends stemming from strong  tradition, the creation of new aesthetics while  respecting classical designs, harmony and variety  of decorative designs. The result of this approach  is the development of the collection which,  similarly to the Renaissance, combines various  disciplines, provides the possibility to make one’s  own combinations using the collage technique,  with harmonized shades and complementing  patterns. It is the diversion from minimalism,  it is variety which also creates a harmonised whole.

The Renesans Collection design by Dorota Koziara  Studio was created in 2015. The artist invited the  young designers Joanna Mazurek and Francesco  Ippoliti to cooperate.

A part of the collection will be presented as the  main Trendy 2016 installation at this year’s Ambient fair in Frankfurt.

Courtesy of Manufaktura w Bolesławcu

Who Loves Linen? We Do....

Soft Washed Tea Towels in Vibrant Prints

If you have shopped at Pas Par Tou, or www.pas-par-tou.com, you are familiar with the beautiful line of soft washed linens that we carry. Our linen collection is available in our shop in Greenport and on our Newly Updated Website. Our linens are sourced from a small family run factory in Poland. All of the linen used has been washed several times before printing, cutting and sewing. The factory employs a local artist who creates the beautiful prints of herbs, vegetables, fruits, flowers, wildlife and elements of nature. The prints are vibrant and charming, making for a perfect hostess gift or gorgeous addition to your dining and kitchen areas.

Pot Holders 50/50 Linen Cotton Blend

Our linen line includes: Teatowels, Pillows, Table Linens, Bed Linens, Aprons, Mitts and Clothing. The reason behind our love for linen is the tactile quality and luxury that linen embodies. As we all know, linen feels cool to the touch and has a very smooth finish. Linen "breathes" as a natural fiber, making it ideal for a myriad of uses. The more linen is washed the softer and more absorbent it becomes. That is why we encourage machine washing of many of our items as opposed to dry cleaning.

Poppies, One our most popular prints

The natural colors of linen range from ivory, cream, taupe to gray and have a soft shiny lustre. Very white linen is achieved through extensive bleaching. Linen as a fabric is durable and strong, being even stronger when wet. Because linen is a natural fiber made from flax, it is easy to care for, resists dirt and stains, does not pill and can be cleaned by many methods. When washing we recommend that tumble drying is limited, linen is far easier to snap out wrinkles and iron when it is damp. On the other hand, many of our linen items are designed with the wrinkling nature of the fabric as part of the "charm" of the item.

Natural Colors of Linen

Soft Washed Pillows, Super Cozy

On some of our linen products you may notice small "slubs" or knots in the weave. These are natural imperfections that are created during the weaving process and add to the nature of the fabric. We love linen at Pas Par Tou, our Signature Collection has become an integral part of the Pas Par Tou aesthetic. Each season we strive to introduce new items to our linen collection. Gosia travels to Poland to work with the factory owner, they brainstorm to create new products and introduce beautiful new items to the line. This past season, we introduced a Tunic Apron, created from a Vintage Style with modern attributes. The Apron has met with great success, is available in many colors and actually looks great on. Stock does not last long, drop on in to our shop and see for yourself!

Cheers

The Secret Behind Polish Pottery

One of the major influences at 
Pas Par Tou is the extensive line of Polish Pottery that we carry.

Many of our Customers come to our shop solely for our Unique Collection of Pottery and the New Patterns that we introduce.

While other customers have many questions as to the process by which the pottery is created, the patterns, and how to set a table using the pieces that Pas Par Tou showcases.

Through several articles we will walk you through the process, perhaps enticing you to explore the mastery and artisan craftsmanship behind this beautiful stoneware.

Ever wonder about the origins of this beautiful pottery? The perfect high shine glaze, the intricate patterns, the timeless elegance and craftsmanship that only Polish Pottery offers, we are going to go into a little bit of detail as to the process behind the Artistry of Polish Pottery and the levels of perfection one must attain to be truly "Unique"

Polish pottery is created from bisque colored clay that is found only in the 
Boleslawiec region of Poland. 
The clay is rougher in texture than a clay used for porcelain and fires at high temperatures to create true stoneware. 

 

                                                                                                                                         

Liquid clay is poured into molds, allowed to dry and then removed from the mold. 
A clay worker then takes a piece and cuts away any excess clay. 
The clay is smoothed and sponged to remove imperfections, ensuring that the finished pieces sit flush with the tabletop and have no blemishes.

The pottery is allowed to dry over-night in drying rooms. 
The pottery is then fired in a large kiln at 850 degrees where it hardens to stone and the clay becomes a soft white bisque 
The pieces are now reading for hand painting, sponging and decorating.

First fired pieces are racked and prepared for painting.

The plain bisque white pieces are hand painted and glazed with color. The artisans that work on the pottery are classically trained in the art. Highly detailed, precise designs are placed on each piece of pottery. The process is done by placing each piece on a wheel that slowly rotates. The design is stamped and hand painted in a circular motion to insure uniformity. Every piece created will be just slightly different due to the nature of the process. Polish Artisans are highly skilled at their craft, sometimes taking hours to complete a large piece with the complex patterns.They strive for perfection, avoiding smudging and pattern imperfections

Sponge are created by each artisan to create the designs on pottery pieces

Colors are laid out for easy access while painting and stamping

Once the pattern is completed, the pottery pieces are hand-dipped in clear glaze. 

The pottery is then fired at a higher temperature of 1250 degrees. 

Once removed from the kiln, the pieces have the beautiful, vibrant colors that Polish Pottery is known for. Each piece goes through a quality check, pieces with imperfections will be returned to the process and corrected. This is how that superior "high shine" glaze is produced that sets Polish Pottery apart from other types of Stoneware.