The award is presented for outstanding scientific achievements in archaeology or for exhibitions of a high standard presenting archaeological artifacts from Saxony, Lower Silesia and the Czech Republic. In addition to a symbolic trophy, recipients also receive a cash prize. This year, it amounts to 2,000 euros. The award for the Museum of Ceramics in Bolesławiec is all the more valuable because, for the first time, it was presented to an institution rather than, as previously, to an individual.
Museum professionals from Bolesławiec were recognized for the project “At the Source of Bolesławiec Ceramics. Bolesławiec as One of the Central European Pottery Centers from the 15th to the 17th Century.” The impetus for the project was the discovery in 2007, at Piaskowa Street in Bolesławiec, of the remains of one of five early-modern production facilities.
The discovered structures were presented at an international exhibition, which also brought together examples of Bolesławiec ceramics from the 15th–17th centuries from several dozen museums in Europe, as well as products from that period made by other important pottery centers in Europe. The exhibition was presented in Bolesławiec (15 December 2012–10 March 2013), Nysa (3 April 2013–19 May 2013) and Goerlitz (13 July 2013–31 October 2013). The exhibition was interactive; modern multimedia equipment was used to present the topics, and a special educational trail was prepared for the youngest visitors.
In addition, a bilingual Polish-German publication of more than 350 pages was issued. It contained a catalog of Bolesławiec ceramics from the 15th–17th centuries, an analytical study of the research material and scholarly historical essays, making it possible to present the most comprehensive picture to date of Bolesławiec ceramics from approximately the mid-16th to approximately the mid-17th century.
The Museum of Ceramics’ German partners in carrying out the project were Schlesisches Museum zu Goerlitz, Sächsisches Landesamt für Archäologie, Dresden, and Kunstgewerbemuseum Schloss Pillnitz. The Bolesławiec museum professionals also succeeded in involving more than 30 other museums, archives and libraries, where research was conducted and collections were examined.
The competition for the Werner Coblenz Award has been organized every two years since 2004. To date, the distinction has been awarded to such eminent archaeologists as Sławomir Moździoch (2004), Dirk Scheidemantel (2004), Joanna Wojnicz (2006) and Dr. Wolfgang Schwabenicky (2010).
No awards were presented in 2008 or 2012 because there were no candidates who met the competition’s high requirements.
