The Bolesławiec ceramics have been manufactured for many centuries from natural ceramic clays that can be found near Bolesławiec at the Bóbr and Kwisa rivers. According to historical sources, the first stoneware was made in mediaeval times. The oldest examined out to date Boleslawiec pottery workshop operating from 16th century till the middle of 17th century was located at the Piaskowa street. The archeological researches proved that many dishes in various forms as well as stove tiles, pipes, figurines and technical ceramics were manufactured there. Products, covered with glazes of various kinds and colours, had also rich plastic decorations of rich artistic value.

Even in middle ages local potters formed a guild. Over the first few hundred years this was a close organization – only 5 potter’s shops were members of the guild. The guild did the best to ensure high quality of its tableware . The limitation as to the number of potters in the guild was abolished in 1762 under the pressure from the Prussian authorities. Even then Bolesławiec was one of the most important pottery centres in Europe.

Since the middle of 17th century Bolesławiec was famous for its hand-made jugs and bottles with spherical bellies, smooth and diagonally grooved. They were coated with brown-burning clay that made the surface waterproof and glossy. Such clay glaze is typical for products from Boleslawiec.

In 1753 Johann Gottlieb Joppe made his famous „Large Pot”. The 2,2 –meter-high pot was considered the largest in the world. The pot became so famous that one wrote a play and a book about it.

Thanks to Johann Gottlieb Altmann, who was the first to use transparent glaze instead of the previously used lead glaze, the local stoneware trade made a tremendous technological leap. Altmann was also a pioneer in using white clay , previously used only for overlays while making entire pots.
Wielki Garniec, autorstwa Johanna Gottlieba Joppego

Founded in 1897, the Vocational School of Pottery stimulated further development of the trade. Wilhelm Pukall, the first head of the school was a renowned specialist of this time, foreman of the Royal Porcelain Factory in Berlin. The school was staffed with the most outstanding teachers, artists and designers.They developed not only successive generations of ceramists but also worked out new technologies of making ceramics in moulds by using stoneware clay. They also propagated avant-garde shapes and patterns. Thanks to them Bolesławiec pottery workshops developed very fast and products of such companies as Reinhold & Co., Julius Paul & Sohn or Werner & Co, became famous and valued not only in Europe but also on other continents.

After World War II ceramics manufacturers started their productions in stopped old works. It let to maintain the continuity of tradition of Boleslawiec stoneware. The famous Cracow ceramic artist Tadeusz Szafran was one who rendered to rebuild the ceramic industry. One of the most important result of his work was restarting of prewar Reinhold & Co. factory.

In 1980 Zaklady Ceramiczne „BOLESLAWIEC” were emerged, the largest manufacturer of ceramic tableware in the region. Started then the renaissance of the traditional Boleslawiec ceramics continues to these days.

The rapid growth of interest in beauty of Bolesławiec dishes is the result of combination of centuries-old experience in technology of pottery masters with contemporary design of the modern lines.

Anyone who wants to familiarize with achievements of Zakłady Ceramiczne “BOLESŁAWIEC” is kindly asked to visit the factory, to see production process and to buy unique dishes in the factory’s outlet.
Your stay in Boleslawiec and in “BOLESLAWIEC” will be a source of memorable impressions and will leave indelible mark in your home in the form of our beautiful, functional and branded products.