Vacation rentals in Ireland, Germany, Mexico, Canada, etc. (villas, farms, cottages, apartments)

> SlowTrav > Rest of the World > Travel Notes

A Quick Guide to Polish Pottery

Carey Fruzza (carey)

If you are going to Poland, you will probably see the famous hand-made pottery from the small town of Boleslawiec (pronounced bo-leh-swav-ee-ets) located in the southwest of Poland. If you are a ceramic junkie like me, you'll notice that this pottery is different from the hand-made pottery you find in places like Italy, France or Korea. The solid heaviness of the pottery and geometric designs appeal to both men and women. (My husband is just as crazy about it as I am - what a relief!)

Pots are made from a local stoneware clay that fires white. Most pottery is made from plaster molds and shapes are quite varied, like the distinctively Polish cheese lady! The beauty of these vessels is in the hand-painted designs made with small sponge stamps. Patterns swirl in exquisitely detailed geometric and floral designs. The pots themselves are lead-free, oven, dishwasher and microwave-safe.

Polish Cheese Ladies

Quality

I'm a ceramicist myself and appreciate fine craftsmanship. Even if you don't necessarily know what to look for in Polish pottery, you're in luck! All Boleslawiec pottery is clearly marked with stickers that give a "Gat." rating. "Gat." is short for gatunek which means "quality category." You'll find pots ranging from categories one through five.

• "Gat 1" is the best quality; there aren't any defects in the pot whatsoever.
• "Gat 2" pots may have a stray brush stroke.
• "Gat 3" may have a crack in the glaze.
• "Gat 4" may have a chip.
• "Gat 5" cannot be used in the oven.

It is very easy to find the best quality and I only buy "Gat 1" unless I want to hang it on the wall and the flaw is imperceptible.

Gat. 1 stamp on bottom of pottery

Patterns

Some pots are "Unikat' which means they are produced as a limited edition and are usually signed by the artist. These tend to be more expensive, prized items which are usually for display only. (I use all of my Polish pottery which is the most appealing thing about it.)

There are dozens of Classic and Unikat patterns available. Many of the classic patterns are repeated throughout the factories in Boleslawiec with minor alterations. The most classic Polish pattern and the most widely available is deep blue with white dots, but there are many more detailed patterns to choose from as well.

Flying Peacocks Pattern

Where to Buy

My mom went on a shopping spree in Boleslawiec last time she visited here. One of her many purchases was a set of twelve cups. A few weeks later, she called me to tell me that a similar mug in a Sonoma, CA store was selling for a whopping $24. She bought hers for $3 each. You will find that Polish pottery in the United States is at least seven times more expensive than in Poland. The best deals to be found in Poland are in the town where the pottery is produced: Boleslawiec.

Boleslawiec

We bought all of our Polish pottery in the town of Boleslawiec, about an hour (120 km) west of the city of Wroclaw. This is where you'll find the best prices and the most staggering selection. This is probably the only town in Poland where you can pay in US dollars.

The best way to get there is by car. There are actually bus tours from Germany for all the American army wives stationed there. Maybe you could catch a ride if you happen to be in Frankfurt.

The town of Boleslawiec is charming. There is a sweet town square, more shops with ornaments, glass and linens, and even a ceramics museum. In August, the town hosts a ceremics festival which is a hoot! At the festival, large baking dishes are sold for as low as $2. Be prepared to wrangle with other Poles vying for these great prices!

Pottery Festival at Boleslawiec

Factory Outlets

If you miss the festival, not to worry! Here are my top favorite factory outlets in Boleslawiec:

Zaklady Ceramiczne Factory Shop
11, Kosciuszki Street
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am - 5pm, Sat 7am - 3pm
Staff speak English and German. Major cc accepted.
In my opinion, this shop has the best prices. They have a good selection of large serving pieces and complete sets.

Manufaktura Factory Shop
30, Gdanska Street
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am - 5pm, Sat 6am - 2pm
Staff speak English and German. Major cc accepted.
To get to this factory shop, you drive through a lovely wooded area near the river. In addition to the general selection of patterns and shapes, of interest in this shop are the many small pieces like spoons, ornaments, miniature animals and salt and pepper shakers. Also, ask for a tour of the factory to see the artists at work here.

Ceramika Artystyczna Factory Shop
23, Kosciuszki Str.
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am - 6pm, Sat 8am - 3pm
Staff speak English and German. Major cc accepted.
I favor this shop for their unique and beautiful designs. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable and speak English.

Krakow

Look in at the booth in the Sukiennica (Cloth Hall) in the middle of the square. Prices are higher here than in the town of Boleslawiec. Another store, also called Sukiennice, is located on Bracka Street, about two blocks off the square. Prices are about the same as the Cloth Hall, but there is a much larger selection.

Wroclaw

On the 2nd floor of the department store Fenix, in Wroclaw's main square, you'll find a nice selection of pottery at reasonable prices (meaning cheaper than Krakow).

Warsaw

A wonderful store owned by a very friendly English-speaking woman can be found at Kim's Center. And get this: My husband couldn't leave this store without buying a dog food bowl.

Kim's Center
Ulica Stanislaw Kostki Potoczkiego 24D in the neighborhood Wilanow in Warsaw
Tel: +48 22 651 70 30
Web: www.kimscenter.com.pl
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am - 6pm, closed on Sundays

A second store, called Boleslawiec, is located at ulica Prosta 2/14 (tel: +48 (22) 624 84 08).

Throughout Poland, look for the small chain store called Cepelia. This shop sells all kinds of wonderful Polish crafts, including Boleslawiec pottery.

The Catch

Unfortunately, I have yet to find a shop in Boleslawiec that will ship your pottery back home. In the past, we have bought extra duffel bags and checked them in on the plane.

Carey recently moved from the beautiful city of Wroclaw, Poland back to California, with her husband and pooch.

Some photos used with permission of Boleslawiec Chamber of Commerce. Other photos by the author.

Back to Top

* Advertise on Slow Travel | Post your travel questions on the Slow Travel Forums

Copyright © 2000 - 2008 SlowTrav.com, unless noted otherwise. Slow Travel® is a registered trademark. Contact Slow Travel

RSS Feeds - Link to Us - Disclaimer - Currency Converter - Colophon - Sponsors - Become a Member
Home | Forums | Slow Travel? | Europe Trip Planning | Photos | Trip Reports | Search | About Us | Classifieds

Vacation Rentals - Rest of the World - Trip Planning - Vacation Rentals - Hotels - Restaurants - Travel Notes - Photos