Disclosure:  This is not a compensated or sponsored post. I was provided the product for review purposes only.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Polish Pottery: From Its Communist Roots To An American holiday Collectible

Originally functional peasant art dating from the middle ages, the Boleslaweic Poland (once in Germany) tradition dates back to early 17th or 18th century when there were art schools dedicated to training generations of ceramicists in this unique form of decoration using carved sponges. At this time there were small family workshops all around Boleslawiec. After WWII the production of pottery became centralized under communist regime; most, if not all of the pottery was made by a government owned facilities referred to simply as the “Factory.” After the fall of Communism, the entrepreneurial model again began to flourish and many of the workers of the still-government owned “Factory” left to start co-operatives owned and operated by artisans themselves. Over time, other workers started their own businesses, each with its own “mark”.  The pottery has been very popular in America since the end of WWI and also in Asia, including South Korea and Japan.  It is like glass and non-stick, goes from fridge to oven easily, and although there are many vibrant colors, purple remains unattainable.

Back by popular demand, our 2017 Edition Polish Pottery Jack O’Lantern is here! This year’s exclusive design includes hand-painted black roses for an extra spooky touch. In the village of Boleslawiec, artisans hand-paint each collectible Polish stoneware Jack O’Lantern with a Halloween pattern. Each meticulously adorned ceramic Jack O’Lantern is hand-painted using traditional folk art methods. Halloween motifs are stamped on with hand-carved sea sponges and details are added with fine brushwork. To preserve these detailed images, our artisans glaze each pumpkin and fire at high temperatures to bring you an everlasting beauty you will want to display for years to come. Each Polish pottery Jack O’Lantern is made exclusively for Uno Alla Volta, from the heart and hands of artisans. No two pumpkins will be exactly alike. Dimensions – approximately 9 inches tall and 10 inches in diameter.

The direct to consumer brand Uno Alla Volta, which in Italian means one at a time. One at a time describes how their artisans lovingly handcraft each treasure and also how the company was built one product and one customer at a time.

Several years ago they began offering Polish pottery jack-o’-lanterns which have been a hit ever since. “Every year I spend several days in Poland working with artisans who make just 16 pieces a day,” Alpert explains. The functional folk art has thrived for centuries. Even today, skilled artisans in Boleslawiec, Poland, handcraft and paint all the pottery mostly with sponges. Another beloved collection is traditional Murano glass jewelry. Many pieces are made with hundreds of thousands of hand strung seed beads. And the bucket-style Italian suede handbags from Florence are masterfully created in a family-run workshop by hand, one at a time.

Everything at Uno Alla Volta comes with a certificate of authenticity which helps the recipient remember who created it and why. “You know it’s been created by a human being,” says Alpert. “People are acquiring a treasure that has been touched by the spirit of the person who created it. They consider themselves to be caretakers. That is an essential part of the story.”

This is a great statement piece during this time of year.