Kitchen

[tucka]

I love the polish stoneware, loved it when it was on the Q, sad when it left,I saw it was on shopQ [snbc], I loved that tea pot beautiful, everything was beautiful. I kept looking around and seeing if I had a place for any of it and unfortunatly I am running out of room. Loved the rooster too, my kitchen is full of roosters. It is expensive but I love it.tucka.

[MizKringle]

There are different factories in Poland that produce Polish stoneware. They are all from the same area of Poland, or at least the factories we hear about and are all from the same area. Each factory has its own stamp on the bottom of the piece. One could debate which factory produces the best items, but most would probably agree that is is Ceramica Artistyczna (CA). The artwork on their pieces tends to be a bit finer, a bit more complex, as are their designs. Some of the other factories produce pieces that have designs that are a little more folksy. The items that used to be sold on the Q tended to be from the master artists at the CA factory. The CA factory has different levels of artists, but each seem to create a lovely product at each level of technical difficulty. The colors used by CA artists also tend to be more vibrant. But I recently received a CA polish stoneware gift that was signed, and I thought the work was a bit sloppy and the design didn't appeal to me. Oh well... But I have other pieces that are gorgeous! IMO, the CA factory also uses a higher grade of ceramic in their pieces. From what I've seen come out of other factories, the cream colored ceramic has some sort of tinge that isn't as bright as that from CA. I'm not sure if it's a brown or a grey tinge. Sometimes you can find pieces from the other factories at TJ Maxx. The SHOPHQ pieces are not from CA.

If the piece was painted by a master artist, then it bears that artists' signature. I've also seen pieces with just initials, and I think that means the person has not yet achieved master artist status. There may also be less complicated pieces that don't note the artist, but I'm not certain. I think some pieces may have a design created by one person, but painted by another - but on this point I am also not certain.

My polish stoneware pieces are beautiful and durable. I have no qualms about baking in them, storing things in the fridge or freezer, or serving in them. They wash easily. The ceramic is also supposed to help with more even baking or roasting, but I forget why. The one caution is that you should not put a cold piece of stoneware in a hot oven. If you have something stored in the fridge or freezer in polish stoneware, it is OK to put it in a cold oven and let it heat up slowly as the oven heats. I really appreciate the durability of my pieces. I expect to have them for the rest of my life, and maybe pass them down to nieces or others. It's that durable.

If it appeals to you, then go for it! It's beautiful.

eta: I recently bought a piece from another factory, and it has its own charm too. It's just what I was looking for, so I didn't mean to suggest the other factories didn't produce beautiful pieces too. Each factory has some tempting items.

And it's microwave safe too. Plus there is no lead in the ceramic or the paint.

[suzyQ3]

IMO, the CA factory also uses a higher grade of ceramic in their pieces. From what I've seen come out of other factories, the cream colored ceramic has some sort of tinge that isn't as bright as that from CA. I'm not sure if it's a brown or a grey tinge. Sometimes you can find pieces from the other factories at TJ Maxx. The SHOPHQ pieces are not from CA.

Worth highlighting, mskringle.

The CA signature PS, IMO, is a higher-quality in terms of the art and maybe even in terms of the variety of shapes. The patterns are more intricate. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that some of the other factories -- and indeed the older CA pieces -- appear more simple or geometric, and some may enjoy that look as well.

I have a small collection of PS and have several on display. I didn't, however, get into it to the degree that some PS lovers did. I never bought place settings, preferring the PS as accent pieces and serving pieces.

[Q4u]

QVC bought their Stoneware from The Zanger Company (there's a website under this name, run by Gloria). I've been collecting for about 20 years (from the time Gloria first came on)... and have only bought from The Zanger Company so that the continuity of the patterns will continue. If you look at the products from the different factories, they all have a "signature" look to them. I personally believe that all the Polish Stoneware is good (the clay and firings) but not all of them sponge and color the same.

Just go with what you love... I did and haven't regretted it for a moment.

(And nothing has broken in all these years.... not one thing!)

[Q4u]

BTW... polishstoneware.com IS the Zanger Company run by Gloria.

[NoelSeven]

On 1/28/2015 Q4U said:

BTW... polishstoneware.com IS the Zanger Company run by Gloria.

That's the one!

I bought many pieces from Gloria when she was on QVC and I am so glad I did! I still love them, they are treasures.

Since then, I have bought a few additional pieces from Gloria by way of her website. I really miss the shows, and to think they dropped Polish Stoneware in order to promote Temp-tations! Awful.

[Townsend]

It's funny, someone posts Polish Stoneware, and a bunch of us from the old days show up!

I will add that http://www.artisanimports.com/?sarus=bingAds carries a huge assortment of CA stoneware, along with a number of the others from different factories. The CA factory has always been considered the best quality. Artisan prices are also the best I've found, and their customer service is second to NONE! They also will custom order anything you want. Since QVC stopped the PS, Artisan has been my go-to for anything I wanted to add to my CA collection.

I too, am not collecting anymore......finally ran out of space! It's all over my house and I love every piece of it!!

[Q4u]

I agree, it's fun to see the original Polish Stoneware ladies pop out and gather in one of these threads!

Once you experience the quality of fine stoneware like the Polish pieces there literally is no turning back. I purchased one set of Temptations, actually the first TSV they ever had. I really didn't use it (had at the time, small square shaped pieces, odd sizes, for me at least) and ended up giving them away. Then Gloria came along, I bought a set of 4 dessert bowls and was hooked on the quality and convenience of them. This was before they even had other colors besides blue on them! Then I bought a set of 4 square dessert bowls and used them too! (They were blue sponge too).... then came all the colors and butterflies and it was more than love at first sight!

Of course affording what I wanted has taken about 20 years but I have a service for ten (I still want 12), dinner, dessert, mugs, bakeware, salt & pepper, mixing bowls... you name it. One more I want is a large square Lasagna bake pan but that will have to wait a while. I'm using a large oval for roasting most of the things I bake.

I agree, the customer service at this company is profound. They pack their items with great care and I've never had anything arrive broken and four years ago I ordered quite a lot after we moved across country and everything was beautiful.

I really love this stuff. I makes me feel so good to look at it, handle it and it cooks so well.....

[NoelSeven]

On 1/28/2015 Townsend said:

It's funny, someone posts Polish Stoneware, and a bunch of us from the old days show up!

I will add that http://www.artisanimports.com/?sarus=bingAds carries a huge assortment of CA stoneware, along with a number of the others from different factories. The CA factory has always been considered the best quality. Artisan prices are also the best I've found, and their customer service is second to NONE! They also will custom order anything you want. Since QVC stopped the PS, Artisan has been my go-to for anything I wanted to add to my CA collection.

I too, am not collecting anymore......finally ran out of space! It's all over my house and I love every piece of it!!

I've bought several small pieces from them (Polmedia). They carry numerous pieces of the same line Gloria brought to us, and I totally agree with you about their customer service being the best there is!

They also have numerous sales and discounts on S&H. You can sign up for email notification of sales, which I have done. They don't overdo it like some places do, emailing you daily. I hate that.

[NoelSeven]

On 1/27/2015 depglass said:

OK, Polish Stoneware Fans, can you really bake in this stuff, or is it just for looks?

I use mine all the time for baking... casseroles, veg dishes, desserts.

Things don't stick to it and I've never had anything burn. I also have never had a piece get a crack or a chip.