Bolesławiec ceramics have been associated primarily with distinctive stamped patterns for decades. Meanwhile, prototypes of vessels decorated with a spray gun are being created in the Manufaktura workshop.
– One painter decorates 60 vessels per shift, while the spray method makes it possible to paint 100 vessels – said Paweł Zwierz in a July 2026 interview with Forbes.
The head of one of Bolesławiec’s largest ceramic manufacturers also announced that mass production of such vessels is to begin in January 2027. Although he does not expect the manufactory to use only this method, he would like the new products to account fairly quickly for 20% of total sales.
– We are opening up to a new customer because we have to find a way to survive – added Paweł Zwierz.
Spray instead of stamps. Is this really a new face of Bolesławiec ceramics?
As the project’s author, Magdalena Gazur, explains, the impulse for the experiment came from historic ceramic vessels from Bolesławiec featuring subtle tonal transitions—proof that the regional tradition is much richer than it might seem and that the region’s history is not limited exclusively to stamped motifs.
– People believe that decorating with stamps has a centuries-old tradition in Bolesławiec, but the opposite is actually true – says the Manufaktura’s chief designer. – Against the backdrop of Bolesławiec ceramics’ rich history, stamps are quite a new idea that became popular and developed in the hands of Polish makers after 1945. During the German period, at the beginnings of Bolesławiec ceramics, various kinds of decoration were used. Among them were vessels that intrigued me with precisely these tonal transitions, with sprays that do not use stamps at all and come from different periods – Gazur explains.
This discovery, made while working on her own doctoral dissertation, led the Manufaktura designer to create the first prototypes of spray-painted vessels.
A precise and labor-intensive method
The painting process is extremely labor-intensive and precise because it requires special paper templates and sterile cleanliness to avoid leaving fingerprints on the delicate coating.
– I have to prepare the right template and hold it in the correct way – explains the Designer. – I spray it from different sides, and after each spray I have to wash my hands, dip them in water and wipe them dry. For the templates, for now I use bookbinding waste. I try to use recycled paper. The paper must be selected so that the paint settles on it properly. It must have a suitable surface in contact with the paint. If an interesting material comes into my hands, I may discover something that will allow me to replace paper with something completely different. In the past, I believe, metal templates were used instead. But with my vases, onto which the paint is sprayed, a metal template would not perform its function because the shape is quite complicated and a flexible material is needed so that the templates can simply be fitted properly – adds Magdalena Gazur.
Airbrush or spray gun?
Although the method may be associated with modernity, implementing it on a larger scale involves technical challenges, such as the need to create a separate production line.
– Depending on the precision required, I use either an airbrush or a spray gun. An airbrush does not handle ceramic paint very well because it is designed for graphic water-based paints. Ceramic paints, on the other hand, have a different composition, which causes sediment to form and can clog the airbrush. That is why I am currently testing spray guns. Depending on what I need, I set the appropriate pressure and spray intensity – Gazur adds.
The difficulties keep piling up.
– In addition, this is a new thing in production that we have to isolate from other products – Gazur explains. – Sterility must be maintained and the workplace properly prepared. In a sense, a new production line has to be introduced. Soon we will introduce spray painting for everyday products such as dinnerware sets, mugs, plates, etc., but for now, the main items being created are unique author-designed vases painted by me, which debuted in 2025 during a presentation of new Bolesławiec ceramics designs at the World of Ceramics – says the designer.
At present, there are several unique jugs at a high price
Only a few jugs painted using this exceptional technique are available for purchase at the Manufaktura on Gdańska Street. The cheapest and smallest one, measuring approximately 17 cm, costs around PLN 500, while the tallest, approximately 40 cm high, is also the most expensive—around PLN 1,600.
– No more than 20 pieces will be displayed in our physical store – informs the designer. – Because of the price, they certainly will not sell in large numbers. The official expanded premiere will not take place until the manufactory’s 35th anniversary in 2027.
As Magdalena Gazur reports, products available at lower prices for everyday use will also appear in 2027. These will include plates, mugs and other shapes that can be painted using this technique.