What Is Unikat Polish Stoneware?
Just as there are distinct schools and styles of fine china, there are distinct styles of stoneware pottery. Unikat pottery, made in Boleslawiec, Poland, is a superb quality, high-fired stoneware with several distinctive styles of glaze. The finest and most sought-after pieces are hand decorated and signed by a small number of highly skilled artists. Unikat means "unique" in Polish, and the term is used for both the general category of Boleslawiec stoneware, to the signed pieces by established artists (each hand decorated and therefore one of a kind), and to the products of a particular company which is named Unikat in reference to the unique stoneware product.
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History
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The city now known as Boleslawiec has been producing pottery since at least the seventh century. The first guilds were formed in the 1400s. The process of using stamps to apply colored decoration was developed in this early period. The current style of stoneware, and in particular the effect known as "Peacock's Eye," however, was developed during the late 1800 and early 1900s in response to the Art Deco movement. The first formal school to teach ceramic skills was opened in Boleslawiec (then known as Bunzlau) in 1897. During the Communist era, the style became well-established, and in the decades since the fall of the Soviet Union, Unikat pottery has become internationally popular. The artists have created a strong and diverse gallery of glaze patterns, clearly based on traditional styles but expanding the range to explore the potential of the market.
Production
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Modern Unikat stoneware is made from a high-quality white clay which can take a high fire. High firing means the elements of the clay will not simply harden but fuse, becoming a superbly tough ceramic that is hard to break or chip. The forms are created by an assortment of techniques used alone or in combination: plates are often thrown (formed) on the potter's wheel, but other forms may be cast in molds. Molded pieces will still be hand cast, hand finished and often combined with fully handmade features, such as handles. The finished form is decorated using sea sponge stamps.
After being formed, dried and decorated, the pottery is kiln-fired to create the fused stoneware result, then glazed and refired. The ultimate product is an extremely durable, easily cleaned and highly decorative piece. There is no noticeable difference in quality and appearance between tableware and cookware: both are strong, well formed and beautifully decorated. -
Styles of Decoration
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There are two common styles of decoration. The best known the Peacock's Eye, usually produced in deep cobalt tones on a white background with bold primary colors for detailing. This is a style based on repetitions of small motifs, many between the size of a thumbnail and the size of a quarter. Even when the stamps are representational (stylized flowers, for example) the decorations are ranked together in abstract, geometric forms producing a busy, patterned surface.
The second common style includes floral and botanical patterns in a soft, loose folk style, more reminiscent of the well loved Franciscan pattern Desert Rose than of a formal fine china style like Royal Doulton's Old Country Roses. The two primary color sets are blues and pinks. However, among the floral patterns there is substantial diversity and a clear sign of experimentation on the part of the artists.
Other patterns exist, but are less common. There are a number of largely solid to solid-and-ombre pieces where only a subtle color blend serves as decoration. Other styles include a number of simple geometrics, easily distinguished from the busy stamp work Peacock's Eye due to the lack of repeating stamps: instead of many stamps clustered in geometric patterns there are some pieces with simple chevrons, bars and curves marking a solid background color.
Potential Heirloom
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The quality and beauty of the Unikat pottery, the distinctive nature of the hand-created pieces, and the broad utility combined with durability, makes Unikat pottery a superb choice for those wanting to create an heirloom set to pass on. There are many factories in the area around Boleslawiec, each producing different styles and patterns, with different artists; however the overall style is well coordinated, as is the high-quality of the workmanship. As many of the pieces can be mixed and matched both within a company and across company lines, there is infinite room for any collector to put together a beautiful set of mixed pieces that will be unlike any other.
These dishes, cooking tools and service pieces are both beautiful enough to wish to hand on, and sturdy enough to use regularly without constant fear of breakage. With patterns that allow substitutions and variety if breakage does occur, hundreds of years of tradition to give hope for continued production, and plenty of room for the play of personal taste this is simply superb pottery to pass down the generations.
Sources
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Unikat pottery is extremely accessible. Sold through importers, on television and through a wide range of online sources, including direct factory websites, it is easy to find and select modern pieces. Older pieces, for those interested in creating an historical collection, can be found through specialty dealers, again often listed online.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Antosh, GNU license, wikimedia commons
