I didn’t know much about Polish pottery until we started selling it as a retailer. My wife has had pieces for years, but I guess I never really paid attention to them. I know I’m a guy, and I should probably be looking at sports equipment or tools; but this pottery is very beautiful. The art and colors are beautiful and many of the pieces are great to display in your home and make a beautiful collectible that can be passed down as a family heirloom for generations! The ceramic is lead and cadmium free and safe to use in the microwave, oven, dishwasher and freezer. Best of all, it’s affordable and functional! Cooking on it is great and with its non-stick surface it’s better than using a Teflon coated pan (well now it seems like I really know what I’m talking about).

This pottery has been around for centuries. In the 19th century ceramics became popular in Europe. Potters in Boleslawiec, Poland began to use more colors, stamp embellishments (decorating the pottery by hand with stamps), and a white background which made the pottery much more vibrant. What makes this pottery very attractive and attractive is the bright colors that are used, such as cobalt and peacock blues, browns, greens, yellows, and reds.

Polish pottery is beautiful and durable glazed stoneware that is handcrafted in Boleslawiec, which is in the southwestern region of Poland. Stoneware is a clay (unique to the region) that is fired at extremely high temperatures exceeding 2200 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a man-made stone that does not crack or chip easily and is hard enough to resist scratching with a steel point.

There are several factories in Boleslawiec, Poland, that manufacture Polish pottery. I understand that the highest quality pottery is made by Ceramika Artystyczna, and their craftsmanship is internationally recognized. They employ the most talented artists who hand-paint each ceramic piece using brushes and sponges from the Baltic Sea. Another great manufacturer is Zaklady Ceramiczne. There are both “designers” and “artists” in the pottery process, and “potters” who have been involved in the business for generations.

How do I know that the ceramic polish I am buying is a “good deal” while also being of high quality? Ceramic wholesalers generally buy ceramic polishes from the same factories in Poland. However, not all wholesalers select the best quality and buy from top quality factories. Ceramic can have flaws or imperfections in the paint or even in the piece itself. Make sure your ceramic polish is made in a high-quality factory in Poland. A good way to determine the level of quality is to look at where the ceramic polisher is made in Poland (the actual factory) and determine if it is #1 qualityPrayed CAT #1 (GAT short for gatunek – meaning “type” or “type” in Polish), both signify that Polish pottery is of the highest quality.

Some ceramic pieces have a very complex design, are made with six and eight colors and are signed by the artist. These pieces are called signature patterns or Unikat, which is a Polish word meaning “unique”. Does this mean that all other ceramic polishes other than Unikat are not of high quality? Of course not, many, many pieces of Polish pottery, which are not signed by the artists, are beautifully designed and of very high quality.
How do I know that the ceramic polish I am buying is a Unikat piece? These pieces although called signature patterns, they are not actually signed by the artist. Artists who paint exclusive patterns have extensive training in Polish ceramic art. It is important to note that there could be the same design number on a piece, but painted in different ways by different artists. The signature is located at the bottom of the piece and will generally indicate the following:

• The word “UNIKAT” with a number next to it, which is the pattern number.
• Artists name with a printed signature, or stamped signature of the artist who designed the pattern.
• Sometimes there is an indication of “Ltd Ed” for Limited Edition. Not all Unikat pieces are limited editions.
• Factory seal or brand stamped with insignia.
• printed mark indicating Handmade in Poland.
• At the bottom of the pottery there is an alphanumeric code which are the initials of the person who painted the piece of Polish pottery. Next to the initials is a number. Each artist is assigned a unique number, to differentiate between artist names that may have the same initials. Examples of these codes are: MO 50 or TL 78.

When selecting this ceramic, please sort it by manufacturer on the retail website. Most websites have a Shop by manufacturer function on the left or right side of the website. There are thousands of pottery designs. Buying Polish pottery can be fun. Find a retail website that allows you to shop online. Pattern identification number, so you can see all the products in the same pattern. An example of this type of Polish pottery classification can be found in the Elizabeth Michaels Home.