Polish Pottery Online: Reviewed & Rated
Polish Pottery Online...
Hello, I'm Marion. I love and collect Polish Pottery as it's classy, useful and lasts a long time. I am sharing these articles on the history of Polish Pottery, the proper care of it, comparing polish pottery with the worlds other great pottery, and its many uses...
Into the
Past of Polish Pottery
The early years in Polish pottery are highlighted by the fact that all pieces were handmade and hand decorated. The decorations were done using cut potatoes as stampers. The pieces were often made by farmers who would make the pottery during the colder months when they could not work outside. Most of these pieces are simple with simple designs and decoration. There are also pieces from this period that were hand rolled and decorated in white.
In this period there was a lot of evolution of the pottery designs and decor. The 1830s pottery was often decorated in a peacock style. The Bunzlau school of ceramics was opened in 1897. The school served as a training center so that Polish pottery was made to high standards. In World War II the looks started to take on regional flavor. Once the war ended, the freedom allowed artisans to begin express their culture and heritage through their pottery creations.
Today, the pottery is still made by hand. Each piece is decorated carefully by skilled artists. The original stamping techniques are still used, but in place of a potato, a sea sponge is used. Polish pottery is made using the indigenous white clay of Boleslawiec. Some pieces are made using molds and others are made on a pottery wheel. All authentic pieces are signed on the bottom by the artist. Special pieces, marked Unikat, meaning unique, are pieces made with extreme care and are rare collectors pieces.
Proper Care of Polish Pottery
When you think pottery you may think about delicate pieces that must be treated as if they will break with the slightest misuse. You probably do not think about pottery as being durable, strong and amazingly functional. That is, however, what you get when you buy Polish pottery. This type of pottery is not made to sit on a shelf and look pretty. It is made to be filled with food and passed about at the dinner table. It is a functional pottery that will last for years. To keep it looking good, though, you should always make sure you understand the proper way to care for this pottery.
When using your Polish pottery to cook in, make sure that you never bake at a temperature above 350 degrees. This is the maximum temperature to avoid damage. You should also follow the general rule of putting hot pottery in a hot stove or cold pottery in a cold stove. Basically, do not preheat your oven. Put the pottery in and then turn on the oven. This pottery does not adjust well with quick temperature changes.
You can also use the pottery in the microwave. If you need to warm the pottery a bit before using the oven, such as if it was just taken from the refrigerator, you can do so using the thaw or defrost function on the microwave.
You should not use your Polish pottery on a burner, stove top or under the broiler. These methods cause too much of a rapid temperature change and the direct heat is hard on the pottery, causing a risk for breaking or damage.
Cleaning your Polish pottery is quite simple. It can be cleaned right in your dishwasher. You can soak it a bit in soapy water or just put it in the dishwasher. It can also be dried in the dishwasher. A dishwasher is gentle and is actually the best way to clean this pottery. You can wash by hand, but be sure not to use harsh cleaners or abrasives that will scratch the glaze.
Polish pottery can be used in the freezer. Just make sure that you never take it directly from the freezer and put in the oven. It needs to come to room temperature first. Also before putting in the freezer it should be at room temperature.
You also do have to remember that this is a clay product. Do not drop it. While it may be tough, dropping could cause some real damage and even break the pottery. No matter how well made a piece of pottery is, it always has a risk of breaking.
Polish pottery is very nice to use for cooking and serving foods. It is made to high quality standards that ensure it is safe for this type of use. It also keeps foods cold or hot for long periods of time as it serves as a great insulator. As long as you have bought an authentic Polish piece, your pottery should last long if you follow these care guidelines.
For
thousands of years pottery has been produced using various
techniques. The different types of pottery are earthenware,
stoneware, and porcelain. Earthenware, which is common ceramics,
is used for practical as well as decorative pieces. This type of
pottery is not very durable but with good glazing becomes more durable
as well as waterproof. Another type is stoneware which has an
opaque appearance and porcelain whi was developed originally the the
Chinese potters. True porcelian has a finish that is translucent
and smooth and some of the more delicate and beautiful pottery pieces
have been made from this.
Some of the best pottery pieces that have stimulated appetites for art and beauty are:
Mexican Pottery: Pottery has been produced in Mexico for years, and the Tlaquepaque pottery has been famous for being entirely handmade and crafted. It is said that the entire family is involved in the production and tiny tots by the age of six start painting their first pots. Exquisite jars, pitchers, platters, plates, cups and saucers etc. are then formed by other family members. Years of dedicated practice has made Mexican pottery a delight. Designs have ranged from pictures of daily village scenes to the imagination of the artist. Techniques used in these pottery pieces were "petatillo" (use of crosshatched lines) and "graining" (use of dots that are multicoloured) as well as "Stars" (also known as "night"). This type of pottery also came to be known as "Tourist Pottery" and the Americans came to love it.
Native American pottery is also one of the best types found. On the rustic side these pottery pieces are very striking and attractive that fit into homes that have a south-western style. Everyone knows that antique Royal Doulton English pottery is simply fabulous especially if they are authentic. To identify the truly authentic types like "Wedgewood" one has to learn all about the "marks". In a wide range of styles and colors this type of pottery is formal and looks superb. In the same way, ancient antique Chinese pottery is the best type of pottery. No doubt the pieces are extremely expensive and only a few people can afford them, but they still are the very best.
Provencal pottery is also considered special because of the vibrant, bright colors and the fact that the pieces are hand crafted by artisans who are very highly skilled. Using very old 17th century techniques the styles are very famous. Colors used are mainly sunflower yellows, ochre, cerulean blues, silver greens, alizarin reds and deep roses which are the typical colors of the beautiful Provencal landscape. These pottery pieces are said to be an expression of life. Hand painted and gorgeous they look wonderful anywhere.
Boleslawiec Polish pottery is considered to be one of the finest produced in the world. Known for the original designs and style and exquisite hand finish, they are unique and are made with the "Punch" technique. Every piece is a work of art and the vibrant colors and hues make them collectors' items.
Other pottery pieces that are considered to be the best are the Celadon pottery
that hails from Korea. These spectacular and gorgeous pieces have
a beautiful and rich jade color. These pottery pieces are made
from wood-ash glaze and mixed clay and are fired twice in a sealed
kiln. Museums all over the world have Celadon pottery.
Thought of as valuable and treasured pieces of artwork, they are
said to represent "afterlife of harmony and prosperity". Patterns
range from cranes, clouds, floral drawings and willows. They are
delightful and attractive.
Types of Pottery
Pottery can be used to make both decorative and fun project pieces as well as practical and usable pieces of work.
Pottery creations are made by forming wet clay into shapes and then baking them or letting them air dry to harden. The clay can then be decorated and painted for eye appeal.
Many pieces are also glazed for added protection. While all pottery is made from some form of clay, there are three basic different types of this art available. Those are earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain.
The three types of pottery can be distinguished from one another by the type of clay that they are made from and the temperature at which they need to be baked.
It is important to understand the differences in the types when choosing a form to use to make a pottery piece.
Earthenware is one of the oldest forms of materials used for making pottery. Its make-up consists of about one fourth ball clay, a little over one fourth kaolin, about one third quartz, and the remainder of feldspar. The most common colors of earthenware clay are red, buff, and white. Most pieces are fired at temperatures of 1800 to 2100 degrees Fahrenheit. After being fired, the formed piece of earthenware clay will be porous and opaque. In some cases the thickness of this clay resembles that of porcelain. It often chips rather easily. While earthenware is not as durable and strong as other clays, it has a very economical cost. The clay should be glazed to create a water tight seal.
Stoneware is another common form of pottery. It is fired at slightly higher temperatures than earthenware. The best temperature for stoneware ranges between 2192 and 2399 degrees Fahrenheit. It is often considered to be a more difficult clay than earthenware. However, it is more durable. The clay is not porous and can make excellent pots and pans for holding water. The clay is dug from the earth and contains silica, alumina, and impurities from iron, potassium, sodium, and other elements.
Porcelain is a form of pottery created from using kaolin clay. It is fired between 2192 degrees and 2552 degrees Fahrenheit. Porcelain is thought to have much strength when it comes to pottery pieces of work. Some potters call the porcelain pieces China because China was the first location for making porcelain. Porcelain is used to make tableware as well as decorative pieces. It is also known to be used for making dental crowns for teeth. While porcelain does not necessary need to be glazed to prevent absorption of water, it is often glazed to enhance the ease of cleaning.
Creating pottery is a fun and interesting craft as well as a profitable business for many. The making of pottery began centuries ago and has held strong ever since.
When determining which type of clay is best to use for particular project, it is important to consider the purpose of the pottery and the temperature at which it will need to be fired.