Collection: Vases

Ceramic vases from Boleslawiec will be a great decoration for your table. The vessels are shaped on a potter's wheel from local clay and decorated by hand using our signature stamping method. They are sturdy for everyday use and distinctive enough to stand as decorative pieces with or without flowers.

Ceramic Vase: Patterns and Colours

Like all our pottery, ceramic vases feature hand-stamped patterns applied with traditional rubber stamps dipped in coloured clay slips. The most popular designs are:

• peacock eye,
• dots and polka dots,
• stylised flowers,
• speckles,
• rosettes,
• clover leaves,
• golden wheat stalks.

The pattern is part of the clay itself, not painted on. It will not fade or wear away over time. Each decorator has subtle variations in stamping pressure and placement. Because of that, every piece is unique.

How Are Ceramic Vases Made?

Ceramic vases are made in local stoneware clay that contains minerals specific to the Bolesławiec region. The potter centres a ball of clay on the wheel and draws it upward into a cylinder. Controlling the wall thickness requires careful consideration. If the potter makes them too thin at the bottom, they will crack under the weight of water.

After initial drying, each ceramic vase undergoes its first firing at around 900°C. Then decorators apply patterns using the stamping technique developed in the 19th century. After dipping in clear glaze, the vases are fired again at about 1250°C. This process vitrifies the clay and makes it impermeable.

What Is the History Behind Bolesławiec Pottery?

Vases have been part of Bolesławiec pottery tradition since the 1800s, though ceramic was made in this region much earlier, even in the 14th century. Wealthier homes would display ceramic vases with modest floral patterns.

In the early 20th century, the Ceramic School in Bolesławiec developed more elaborate vase forms influenced by wider European design trends. After WWII, the workshops preserved the tradition.

The Vase You Did Not Know You Needed

The ceramic vase looks lovely with cottage-garden flowers and wildflowers. The informal, handcrafted quality complements bouquets beautifully. When not holding flowers, these vases stand as decorative pieces. Some customers collect different sizes and create whole displays in glass cupboards.

Glass vases show watermarks and need frequent polishing, but ceramic vases hide water levels and mineral deposits. Their thicker walls insulate flower stems from temperature changes. The slightly porous stoneware regulates humidity. Because of that, flowers last longer than in glass or metal containers.

Bolesławiec ceramic vases do not leak. The stable, weighted bottoms make them difficult to knock over, which is a desirable feature if you have curious cats or children in the house.

How Do You Care for a Ceramic Vase?

Each ceramic vase is dishwasher-safe. However, it is easier to reach inside a narrow shape with a bottle brush. To remove flower residue or watermarks, fill with warm water and add a tablespoon of denture cleaning tablets. The glazed surface resists staining, and does not absorb odours or colours from previous arrangements.

Ceramic Vases That Last for Generations

We source clay locally to reduce environmental impact. The workshop uses kilns that fire multiple pieces simultaneously to minimise energy use. Even the stamping technique is environmentally friendly because we use clay-based colourants instead of chemical dyes.

Many families have been using the same ceramic vases for generations. The secret to this longevity lies in the traditional firing technique. In hot temperatures, clay particles fuse and ceramics with remarkable resilience to chips, and cracks.

Ceramic Vases as a Gift

Grab a Bolesławiec ceramic vase for your next gift and skip the usual department store stuff that gets forgotten in a drawer. The handmade pieces become family favourites. Newlyweds love them because of their beauty; new homeowners appreciate something that instantly makes a place feel lived-in.

Bringing Polish Traditions Home

You can also gift Polish artistic ceramics directly from a factory in Poland to yourself. In Polish culture, vases and tablecloths are symbols of hospitality. Traditionally, fresh flowers in the home welcome guests and show attention to beauty in everyday life. Polish households treat pottery as a functional art. Many Polish families have specific pottery pieces they bring out for special occasions.

Start your family tradition with a Bolesławiec ceramic vase. Browse our collection to choose the most beautiful pattern.