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.

Boleslawiec (more commonly known as Polish Ceramics)

Selection of Boleslawiec displayed outside our store in Shelter Island

In September of 2013, we took a trip to Poland to meet with some of our current vendors and also to scope out some new ones.  We were getting a great response about our selection of Polish ceramics known as Boleslawiec so we decided to take the four hour drive to the town where these beautiful ceramics are made.

This pottery is not only stunningly beautiful but also has a rich history behind it.  The region where Boleslawiec is made is located on the Polish/German Border and was not under Polish control until after World War II.  Before the war, the factories were run by Germans in a region named Brunslau.  After the war, the factories changed their managements and continued to manufacture the ceramics in the same styles as the Germans.  The region was renamed Boleslawiec. 

Example of a pattern of German origin

What makes the pottery so unique is that it is made from a certain type of clay that is only found in the Boleslawiec region.  This clay gives the pottery the unique characteristics that make it both durable, to withstand baking, and useful for serving.  The popularity of the pottery has greatly increased in recent years leading to an increase in the number of factories making pottery using the clay found in Boleslawiec.  

While we were visiting Boleslawiec, we got to go and see two of the beautiful factories in the town.  They were busy producing very beautiful patterns as well as the traditional and signature ones.  As we went looking through the factory stores, we noticed that these factories had included more unique lines of floral patterns.  These patterns are called UNIKAT patterns and generally belong to a certain artist.  These patterns also tend to be a bit more on the expensive side.  

The great thing about Boleslawiec is that it is oven safe, freezer safe, microwave safe, and dishwasher safe. This makes them easy to use and easy to clean.  We swear by them, our kitchen is full of them, and we have been collecting the Boleslawiec pottery for the last thirty years.   

We continue to have a great response to our Boleslawiec collection at all three of our stores!  Come by and chat with us about the ceramics and get excited as we are about to place another large order!