Polish Pottery Blog

Zaklady Polish Pottery Dinner Plate Patterns

2011-06-01T14:12:00.000-07:00

Do you own Polish Pottery Dinner Plates? My favorites are from the Zaklady Boleslawiec Factory--number GU1014. Polish Pottery stoneware has a good heft to it--it is not your wimpy, cheap stuff you will find at Walmart! This style is 10.75" in diameter, and the plates stack well together.

My personal favorites vary from the typical blue and white traditionally stamped Polish Pottery patterns. I really love greens, reds, and handpainted blue florals! What about you? Do any of these float your boat?

A Polish Pottery book?

2011-03-01T10:43:00.000-08:00

I have always been addicted to books. I blame it on my mother, who used to take me to the public library with her when I was a child. While she loaded up on several novels to satisfy her speed-reading abilities for the week, I wandered throughout the library, and discovered the joy of learning.

When I wandered away to college and later up to Alaska for a summer job, I called my Mom one Sunday afternoon and asked her what was going on back in the Northeast corner of Kansas, where I was raised. She shared the normal gossip about work and friends, but before hanging up, she mentioned, “Oh, and I discovered Polish Pottery!” “Polish Pottery? What is that?” I asked. She then leapt into a description of its vibrant kobalt blues and playful circular patterns. “You mix and match all the patterns, and they all go together! You really should look it up, you would love it!” she said. Doubtfully, I replied, “Umm…okay…well…is there a book about it?” When she said “No,” I was dumbfounded. “What? No book?” In my little world, it seemed that anything worth knowing about could be found in a book. But alas, my subsequent searches for a history of, or better explanation of, Polish Pottery were fruitless.

A trip to Kansas that coming winter introduced me personally to my Mother’s expanding Polish Pottery collection. Wow—she was obsessed! And after she served a few meals with these Polish Dishes, I was also hooked! Within a few years later, my husband and I had our hands deep into the world of Polish Pottery business, but we had to learn everything through the school of hard knocks.

There are hundreds upon hundreds of Polish Pottery patterns, and rather than give them individual names, all factories label their patterns with numbers. To make it easy on American collectors, American retailers each give the patterns names, such as Mosquito, Peacock, Blue Floral, Valley, Forget Me Not, etc. But with each retailer naming the pieces their own made-up names, it has made a lot of confusion for buyers trying to shop around for the best deals.

Now wouldn't it be dream-like if someone published a comprehensive book with ALL of the factories listed, and photos of ALL of their patterns, codes, shapes, etc?! It would be a TON of work, I know...and they'd probably have to republish the book each week, since the companies are always growing, expanding, and changing their Polish Stoneware collection!

Alas...a woman can dream!

Polish Pottery Patterns--The Truth!

2011-03-01T10:33:00.001-08:00

If you spend any time shopping for Polish Pottery Stoneware, you’ll start to hear all sorts of talk using words like: Unikat, Art, and Signature. All three of these terms are virtually interchangeable. They signify that beyond a piece being 1st Quality in construction and painting, the piece is crafted with more hand-painted detail than others, and therefore more expensive and highly treasured. Fewer artists can paint an “Art” pattern, as it is requires a great deal of training, experience and skill.

The word “Unikat” means “unique” in Polish, and all “Art” pieces are stamped with this word on bottom. And of course, each “Art” piece is signed on the bottom with the artist’s full signature, which is why it is also known as a “Signature” piece. The signing of the artist’s full signature on the bottom is a distinction from the other patterns, which typically only have the artist’s initials or a company logo.

But don’t think it is that simple. With 7+ major Polish Stoneware factories (and many smaller ones) producing this fine quality stoneware, there is a lot of variation to how they structure their pricing scale.

For example, one of my favorite Polish factories is Zaklady Ceramiczne. There are four different price levels used in this factory. And you can learn which patterns are which in each level by looking at the pattern code, often listed on the bottom of the pottery, or on retailers websites.

The prices vary depending on the detail of the hand-painted work. For example, when selecting a Polish Pottery product, a code of GU596-56 signifies that you are looking at a teapot (shape number 596), in the Peacock (number 56) pattern, just as a GU814-ART104 pattern would signify a Salad Plate (814) in a Daisy (ART104) pattern. The pattern level is always the second part of the product code, coming just after the dash. The first, and least-expensive level is the “Classic” level, and has numbers without any letters attached (i.e. 41, 56, 111). The “Upper Classic” is the next level up, and always has an “A” attached to the end of the pattern code (166A, 205A, 224A). The third level is the “Subtle” level, labeled as DU (DU1, DU8, DU60) which is sometimes a signed Unikat level, and the highest level is the “Signature Series,” which is labeled with the word “ART” before the pattern number (ART104, ART126, ART129). As you move up the levels, the detail and work gets noticeably more complicated, which is why the prices go up as well.

For example, look at the bottom of a cookie tray below. The blue tag shows "GU1103" and "104ART" as well as "GAT 1":

If the blue tag is missing, your "Unikat" pieces may still have the necessary codes on them, like this "818" piece, as "ART123" pattern!

Why do they switch off writing the "ART" coding before or after the number, such as ART123 or 104ART above?
Just to confuse us. Yup--that's why!

So the truth is...you can ignore American retailers names they assign to Polish Pottery patterns (like the above "Peacock, Daisy, etc" that I just used). They do not originate from Polish factories, but are selected by individual US retailers to make it easier to sell the patterns to collectors. But the names can change from retailer to retailer. In reality, the numbers are what count!!

Southwest Quinoa Salad in Small Polish Pottery Bowl

2010-08-12T22:36:00.000-07:00

Lately, I like to go "shopping" for recipes at www.findingvegan.com

It is an awesome website that lets users submit recipes (with gorgeous photos)...and I can basically just look through all of the photos for an idea of what to make for dinner! Take a look...you'll be drooling, too!

Southwest Quinoa Salad
I found this recipe, and made it yesterday. It is supposedly a "salad"...but I personally thing most dishes like this deserve to be a dip, too. So, out came the tortilla chips...yummy!! It uses avocados, fresh lime juice, and quinoa, which is literally one of the healthiest foods on the planet (and a staple in many South American countries). It's a shame I only discovered quinoa last summer...and that most people have still never heard of it, or tried it. I would compare it to rice (cooks the same way), but it is lighter, fluffier, and has a light crunch when you eat it. I often mix it with rice in my rice cooker, because I love its high fiber and iron content! You can find it in the health food section of stores, and it looks like a little tiny seed (which it is).

These little 5.5" Polish Pottery bowls are to die for (okay, they're not THAT little...but they're still not your standard cereal bowl size)! I prefer to use them, instead of big bowls...because I tend to take smaller servings (and we all know that is a smart idea)! Then again...perhaps it just means that I'll get 2nds, and I feel justified...? Either way...I guess I just like small things!

Curried Cashew Couscous in Polish Pottery Heart Bowl

2010-08-12T22:30:00.000-07:00

I apologize that it has been so long since I've posted. We had baby #3, and he takes up a lot of time from my day!

I love to cook new recipes, particularly ones that are meat and cheeseless. A lot of friends and family have asked me what in the world I eat, if I don't eat meat and cheese. So, in an effort to share with the world that there really are PLENTY of foods out there that don't include the aforementioned...I will now be posting links to recipes that I enjoy (and of course--they're displayed in Polish Pottery)!
Double the pleasure...double the fun!!

Curried Cashew Couscous
I have to admit that I've had a bag of couscous hanging around for about a year...and I haven't figured out what to do with it, until now. I picked it up in the bulk section of the grocery store in Whitehorse, Yukon (because Canadians are healthy like that, eh?)...but I put it in a recipe for the first time this week.I pulled out a recipe I found online, originally from the "Vegan Express" cookbook. The Curried Cashew Couscous was delicious, in my opinion...I had it for yesterday's lunch, dinner, and even breakfast this morning. My dad also ate it up! He supposedly hates curry...but he's never turned away from any of the dishes I make with curry (which is quite a few). My Mom didn't feel like eating...but had one bite and said she liked it. My husband took a 1/4 cup of it (you could tell he had great faith that he would like it), and then told me he wasn't a big fan. Oh well...you can't win them all!

If you dare to try this recipe (I really did love it!), then I would recommend Craisins instead of raisins (I have no use for raisins in my life...ugh)...it was the key ingredient, and gave the dish JUST the right amount of sweetness!

Couscous was a completely new venture for me--I would compare it to a rice texture, but smaller...similar in flavor to white rice (but healthier)...and it cooked a LOT faster. I might have to try it as a replacement for rice, some time!

And of course, I can't fail to mention the beautiful Polish Pottery Heart Bowl. We have many of different shapes and patterns. They're cute...they're nicely sized...and they make such a cute addition to the dinner table! Plus, they're a fantastic gift for a "LOVED" one! ;)

Cafe Rio BBQ Pork

2010-05-31T16:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, so a vegan must make exceptions on occassion. One of these exceptions is enjoying homemade "Cafe Rio" BBQ Pork with my family at big family get-togethers! I'm still trying to figure out if I can make a vegan version that is fairly comparable...but I haven't succeeded, yet! If you want to know how to make this scrumptious meal...check out this website.

Until then...enjoy photos of our collection of bowls from Zaklady and other factories.
The Heart Polish Pottery Bowl, the large GU986 Polish Pottery Party Bowl (with a vinegar bean dip inside), and others!

And of course, EVERYTHING tastes better in Polish Pottery!

Introducing Flower Jewelry!

2010-04-30T22:20:00.001-07:00

We are happy to announce our newest product line of Flower Jewelry!
Each jewelry piece is handmade from natural miniature flowers that are carefully picked,
placed in an acrylic/resin base, and then stylishly set in Sterling Silver.
This unique setting will preserve these blossoms for years to come!
Perfect as a Mother's Day gift, in my opinion!

Polish Pottery and Mother's Day Flower Jewelry Sale!

2010-04-30T22:07:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is around the corner!
Have you found her the perfect gift?

We have 4 unique gift ideas!
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Idea #1

10% OFF POLISH POTTERY
with Coupon Code: MDAY2
**FREE SHIPPING on Polish Pottery orders of $150 or more!**
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Idea #2

10% OFF FLOWER JEWELRY
with Coupon Code: MDAY2
Check out our ALL NEW Flower Jewelry made from real natural flowers set in Sterling Silver! Why give her flowers that won't last? These blossoms will last a lifetime!
**Jewelry ships FREE!**
______________________
Idea #3

LADIES' WOOD WATCHES
Tense Enterprises' lightweight and hypoallergenic Wood Watches are great gifts for Mothers! Choose a stretchy beaded watch (easy to get on and off), or an adjustable band that she can fit to her size!
______________________
Idea #4

30 - 40% OFF PURSES
Our closeout purses are almost gone! We still have a small number of "Baskets of Cambodia" purses that are hand-crafted from organic, durable materials. Spice up her Spring wardrobe with a beautiful handbag that she won't find anywhere else!
**Purses ship FREE!**
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Act now, this sale ends on Sunday, May 2nd!
Click here to start saving at Northstar-Treasures.com

The fine print:
10% off Polish Pottery Coupon, and Free $150+ Polish Pottery Shipping Expires 5/2/10. *Free Shipping special is only available in Continental US. However, applicable Alaska, Hawaii & Canadian orders will be refunded $15 for shipping (comparable offer). To redeem coupon, place items in shopping cart, and enter the Coupon Code in the box at the bottom of the Shopping Cart screen (at bottom of the screen before clicking “checkout"). To use the coupon, you must be logged in as a registered customer on our website, or call us at 1-877-816-1505.

Polish Pottery Ice Cream Bowls

2010-04-30T22:04:00.000-07:00

I've just updated our website with over 2 dozen more patterns in our 5.5" Polish Pottery Ice Cream Bowl size!
This is my favorite size bowl to eat out of!

Polish Pottery Wins!

2010-03-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

Over the past 5 years that I have been collecting Polish Pottery...I am happy to say that I have had many more Polish Pottery "triumphs" than "disasters!" I am a terrible klutz, and therefore...only one fact holds true....Polish Pottery is ridiculously strong. Otherwise...how would it be possible that I have only broken 1 piece in my personal collection in the past 5 years?

First, the only breakage:

If you've met me, you may know that I am very vertically challenged. That means that my cupboards' LOWEST shelf is BARELY within my reach. Dumb me...I knocked this bowl out of the cabinet as I was reaching for a nearby plate. The bowl fell onto a hard metal pan underneath it (in the dryer rack), and split it in two! So sad! Unfortunately, this is my FAVORITE size bowl, and it is veeerry unlikely that I'll ever be able to find a matching shape again (this pattern was limited edition from Manufactura. I don't like many patterns from the Manufactura pattern, but this special pattern hit the spot!). Now I am down to just 2 others this same size (it's a good thing I like their pattern better, anyhow!).

Now...for a story of triumph...

A few years ago I went to a dinner party, and I brought some appetizers on a Polish Pottery Dinner Plate. When leaving the party, I put the plate on my car roof as I strapped my child into her car seat. Without thinking twice, I got in the car, and my husband and I pulled away. We were headed down the curved mountain road, came to a stop sign, and turned left to head home.

All of a sudden, we heard a loud "Ding-ding-ding!" My husband said "What was that?!" I screamed "Pull Over!" as I realized that when we made the turn...our plate had gone FLYING off our car, rolled vertically on the cement, and ended up landing on the rocky roadside.

I jumped out of the car, and found our plate in ONE PIECE, laying there among the roadside shrubbery. We could not believe it!!

To this day, I can't remember which plate it was...because no physical evidence was left behind, showing that our plate had jumped off the top of our car, rolled on the road, and landed on the roadside. Now, THAT is a test of endurance.

But alas, I must include a disclaimer...DO NOT try this at home. Polish Pottery is not invincible, and chances are, you will not be as lucky as us! But it sure has solidified my love of Polish Pottery!

Polish Pottery Soup or Cereal Bowl

2010-02-28T15:47:00.000-08:00

We finally have a great selection of GU1152 Polish Pottery Soup/Cereal Bowls back in stock! They come either painted in the inside (my favorite), or painted only on the outside (a bit cheaper). Of course, I have expensive taste. Not only do I like the bowls painted on the inside, I also prefer the Unikat pieces:

This is an ART116 Polish Pottery Soup Bowl, and I love the royal blue flowers!

While I love the bright blues (and florals in particular), I'm actually VERY attracted the non-traditional Polish Pottery patterns. Well, in truth...rusty red WAS a traditional Polish Pottery color (in the earliest pieces), but today, Polish Stoneware is most notable for its kobalt blue theme. I have an obsession with rusty red patterns, however.

Here is an ART113 Polish Pottery Soup Bowl that I love:

And last, but not least, I REALLY love this Ballina pattern. My love of this pattern surprised me when I first saw it 2 years ago, but it has stayed in my top favorites ever since!

ART165 Ballina Polish Pottery Soup Bowl:

Daisy Polish Pottery Dinner Plate

2010-02-21T20:11:00.000-08:00

We're currently at my sister's house in Georgia, and my sister's Polish Pottery Stoneware pattern of choice is Daisy!

When she was getting married, she made a Wedding Registry on our website, and therefore collected a beautiful assortment of Polish dinnerware, as well as some great bowls and bakers. All of her dinnerware is in the Daisy pattern, but she has other great Unikat patterns, as well (she has good taste)!

I have to admit...Daisy is a beautiful pattern, and ranks up there in my top favorites!

Unfortunately/Fortunately...my list is always growing! So it's getting a bit complicated to determine what my absolute favorite patterns are, nowadays! But once upon a time, I remember thinking Daisy was #1!

I made some fantastic Black Bean burgers with homemade buns tonight.
The buns and burgers were both soooo tiny, that our traditional Polish dinner plate dwarfed these palm-sized burgers!

But this way, we didn't feel guilty going back for seconds!

Banana Bread

2010-02-14T12:30:00.000-08:00

There are very few things that can improve the taste of Banana Bread (already glorious, in and of itself!)...but this Polish Pottery loaf baker did it for us! Call me biased for thinking that Polish Pottery bakers make everything taste better...but seriously...when your eyes are fed TOO...I think it is double the pleasure!

I've always worried over the years that this loaf baker is too large for typical loafs, but I was proved wrong when I used my sister's Blue Horizon Loaf Baker (Zaklady Unikat pattern ART108) to make this yummy loaf:

For those who prefer longer, more slender loafs, we have some 12.25" Polish Stoneware Loaf Bakers. I think these slender bakers would be great for cooking up some fancy loafs to slice for appetizers at a party!

Polish Pottery for the Holidays

2010-02-08T08:52:00.000-08:00

I admit...I'm still posting photos from Thanksgiving...because the food looked amazing!

We used the Zaklady Polish Pottery Deep Baker with Handles (GU1345) to hold all of our turkey carvings:

A medium-sized Polish Pottery pitcher held our homemade gravy:

A small Polish Stoneware baker held our steamed fresh green beans (yummy)!:

And what Thanksgiving would be complete without crab? Oh wait--MINE would!

However, years ago my sister and her husband decided to start their own Thanksgiving traditions. Not being the biggest Turkey fans, they decided that they would have crab and steak for their "traditional" Thanksgiving dinner.

So, with my sister's family, my family, and our parents together for Thanksgiving this year, we had quite the assortment of "traditional" food. We cooked up a turkey for my Dad (half of us are vegans--and I must admit I cheated a TAD to have some!), and my sister and her husband brought crab (skipping the steak, due to an overwhelming amount of food, as it was).

They used a GU879 Polish Pottery Pie Plate to hold their clippings (is that what you call them? I don't eat seafood!), and small Polish Pottery bowls to hold their butter dip.

Valentine's Day Polish Pottery Sale!

2010-01-30T13:50:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is just around the corner...and we have many great gifts on our retail website:

POLISH POTTERY IS 10% OFF with Coupon Code: VAL10

Also, get FREE SHIPPING on Polish Pottery orders of $99 or more!

Our pottery has grown extensively, with over 600 pieces added just since Christmas! In fact, we now carry over 200 patterns in just Dinner Plates, including those from Zaklady Factory, our favorite Polish pottery supplier, and the upscale Ceramika Factory. And that's just the tip of the iceberg!

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UP TO 40% OFF PURSES & FREE SHIPPING

We are also closing out some fantastic purses by "Baskets of Cambodia" that are hand-crafted from organic, durable materials. But supplies are limited--enjoy this sale while they last!

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MEN'S & WOMEN'S WOOD WATCHES

If you haven't checked it out, yet...we have the largest collection of Wood Watches online (nearly 200 styles), and we are excited to share these lightweight, hypoallergenic watches with you! For those hard-to-buy-for-men, check out our popular Men's Sports Series Wood Watches- They will be a Valentine hit!

Sale ends on February 5th (we don't want you to be tardy for Valentine's Day!).

Click here to start saving now at Northstar-Treasures.com

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10% off Polish Pottery Coupon, and Free $99+ Polish Pottery Shipping Expires 2/5/10. To redeem coupon, place items in shopping cart, and enter the Coupon Code in the box at the bottom of the Shopping Cart screen (at bottom of the screen before clicking “checkout"). To use the coupon, you must log in as a registered customer on our website, or call us at 1-877-816-1505.

More Yummy Food... in Yummy Polish Pottery

2010-01-24T14:49:00.000-08:00

If Polish Pottery was a food, I would definitely eat it.

Here is a wonderfully sized bowl by the Zaklady Cermicazne in Boleslawiec Poland. I find myself using it often for mixing, rolls, salads, desserts, etc. We have a billion bowls on our website (seriously--it's a bit overwhelming, don't you think?) in many shapes and sizes. You can find your favorite size by clicking HERE.

The kids all love Olives, so we put some in an apple baker dish so they could eat them to their heart's content. What olive-eating is complete without olive fingers?

My sister made a terribly-tempting cheese spread (particularly tempting for a vegan, such as me), which I broke down and enjoyed. We served the cheeseball on a Bread Plate by Zaklady, with the crackers in heart bowls. We currently have this bread plate in 52 different patterns! We also have similarly sized bread plates from the Ceramica Artystyczna Factory. I've had some customers tell me they put 3 heart-bowls together, with points inwards-which makes a cute display for serving at parties.

Holidays with Polish Pottery

2010-01-01T16:47:00.000-08:00

For Thanksgiving, I was at my Mom's house! She is the one who started our family's adiction for Polish Pottery, and her collection is always growing.

She made a fantastic fresh cranberry/apple/orange fruit salad with jello. It was amazinglygood! She used her GU350 Baker from Zaklady Ceramiczne. I am adding this awesome baker size today, so check it out! Also, I'll be adding the GU349 Polish Pottery Stoneware Baker (slightly smaller), as well!

I love her GU1014 Polish Pottery Stoneware Dinner Plates, also from Zaklady Ceramiczne (and the same size plates I use in my home). Although this photo is of her matching Peacock plates, she actually has quite an assortment of patterns!

My Mom's Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing is always made fresh. It's the same recipe from the Betty Crocker cookbook, but my mom never measures her spices (hmm...this sounds familiar...like Mother, like Daughter!)...and it is superb! She served it in the GU1347 Zaklady Cermicazne Polish Pottery Deep Bowl with Handles.

All in all, it was a fantastic Thanksgiving, and I will be posting more and more photos of our yummy dishes over these last few Holidays!

Polish Pottery Pasta Bowl

2009-12-14T21:48:00.000-08:00

The most-used dish in my house (and my mother's house) is the oh-so-useful PASTA BOWLfrom the Zaklady Ceramiczne Factory in Boleslaweic, Poland. Well, you can call it a Pasta Plate...or anything of that sort. Basically it is a dinner plate with the edges rounded up significantly, so that you can serve pasta, rice dishes, or anything that you don't want falling off the side of your dish! We reach for this more than our dinner plates...especially with 2 small children that like to make a mess (it more easily holds in their messes)!

For a very slightly larger pasta bowl, and more pattern choices, check here for more Pasta Plates.

Polish Pottery Corn Trays

2009-12-13T21:08:00.000-08:00

Today I added some pretty neat Corn Trays to our Polish Pottery collection on our website!

If you're any bit like me, you get annoyed that freshly cooked corn-on-the-cob takes up almost half of your dinner plate. On top of that, it is always a frustrating and messy experience to cover the cob with butter/salt/pepper, and the toppings end up all over my plate (and on the other food). Well, I just discovered corn trays, which allow you to serve (and dress) an individual corn-on-the-cob on its own little tray! The dish even leaves room on the sides for handy corn-holders (you know...the spikes that go in on the ends, so you don't have to get your hands filthy)! I am a HUGE fan of corn-on-the-cob!

Yum...let the eating begin!!

Polish Pottery Stoneware Sale!

2009-11-25T15:02:00.000-08:00

Grand Re-Opening Sale!

Get 15% OFF Pottery
& enjoy our *New* Flat Rate $15 Shipping

Use Coupon Code: DEC25 (Coupon expires 12/15/09. Excludes Watches.)

We have literally dozens upon dozens of new shapes and patterns! We also introduced an updated system that has detailed photos of your pottery from all different angles!

And it you're a fan of a lighweight, stylish and unique watches, don't forget to check out our growing collection of wood watches for men and women! They are made almost entirely from Sandalwood, and they are not only durable, but will make a lasting impression!

Click here to VISIT OUR WEBSITE NOW!!

2009-02-03T13:05:00.001-08:00

15% OFF this week only
on any purchase over $75

Use Coupon Code: VAL09

Click here to start saving now...

This Valentine's Day you should treat your loved ones right!
We'll give you 15% off any order (Wood Watches or Polish Pottery) totaling $75 or more. Now you can buy them something they'll appreciate and use for years to come!

*Coupon Expires 02/08/08. To redeem coupon, place items in shopping cart, and enter the Coupon Code in the box at the bottom of the screen (scroll to the bottom of the screen before clicking “checkout"). To use the coupon, you must log in as a registered customer on our website, or call us at 1-866-886-8530.

New Wood Watches!

2008-11-29T20:27:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to quickly announce that we have (finally) added our VERY popular wood watches to our website! We have carried these in our summer retail store for 2 years, now, and after many customer demands, we now have them available year-round!

These wooden watch designs come in Men's and Women's sizes, with adjustable, durable wooden bands. I personally have been wearing one of these watches for half a year, and I LOVE mine. In addition, my in-laws, as well as my parents each have one (actually...both of my in-laws and my mother own 2 each!)...they are a huge hit!

So, get online and see the new collection now...you will be blown away!

http://www.northstar-treasures.com/wood-watches-c-336.html

NEW Polish Pottery Patterns!

2008-02-28T00:08:00.001-08:00

I'm happy to announce the arrival of a new container from Poland, and with it...2 new patterns for our store! Names are yet to be determined, but here are photos of the patterns:

Happy 2008!

2008-02-27T23:43:00.001-08:00

The last month has been very busy in our Polish Pottery collecting family! We had a new arrival in December, and are happy to announce the birth of our youngest collector, Maiya Lyn. She is a sweet baby, and her older sister (nearly 3) is madly in love with her!

Anyhow, this year we have had several requests for a particular pattern that we only sell in our store, not on our website. All of the pottery on our website ships from one location, and therefore from one wholesale supplier. While this is our largest supplier, we actually purchase from several smaller importers, as well. Our largest supplier imports exclusively from the Zaklady Factory in Boleslawiec (our favorite!). We also purchase pottery from Manufaktura, Ceramika Artystyczna, and in the summer we will get new arrivals from lesser known factories, such as Ceramika Millena, Dana, and Cergor.

If you are ever searching for a particular pattern, we love to go on treasure hunts for a special piece of Polish Pottery! Several customers have taken us up on this offer lately, and one pattern that keeps coming up again and again is a pattern we call Pansy. We carry this in our store in Alaska, and actually have it available in many shapes that are regularly on our website. My understanding is that it is an exclusive pattern, only available to our particular wholesale importer, and his retail customers. Here is a picture of the pattern, in case you are interested in knowing more:
Another pattern (a favorite of my husband, and a local Skagway shopper) is Petunia:
Just email if you want to know what other pieces are available in this two beautiful patterns!

2007-12-09T15:05:00.000-08:00

Questions and Answers from Alisa at North Star Treasures:

Question:
1. Do you have any catalogs? 2. Do you have any local dealers in California? 3. What is the significance of the castle printed on the back of the pottery? Thanks! Loraine

Answer:
Loraine,
Thank you for your inquiry! Unfortunately, we do not have any printed catalogs at this time. We have over 50 different shapes, and many of those shapes are available in up to 26 patterns...and so we have discovered that it is exhausting to try to keep a catalog up to date! Most things that are available are listed on the website (although we love to go on "treasure hunts" for customers...if you are seeking a different pattern or shape), and on the top of our website pages there is a "Print" button, which can help you print specific categories or shapes that you would like to consider further.

I do not have any dealers in California. During the summer months I have a retail location in Alaska, where I meet thousands of tourists from California. I often ask them if they have local stores that carry the pottery, and I will admit that the answer is almost always "no." While Polish Pottery is somewhat commonly found in the East, it is almost unheard of in the Western States! That's one reason we offer our pottery online, to help everyone from everywhere collect it!

As for the Castle on the back of the pottery...
There are about 10 different factories that now make Polish Pottery in the small town of Boleslawiec, where Polish Pottery has its origins. The Castle stamp belongs to my favorite factory, the Zaklady Ceramiczne "Boleslawiec" company! It is the largest and oldest manufacturer or pottery, and in my opinion, has the most consistant quality, both in terms of production, and in its sponge-painting designs. It is my favorite to collect, because their designs mix and match so well, and I know I am always getting a high quality piece! All of the pottery currently listed on my website is from the Zaklady factory, and has the Castle stamp on the back.
For more information regarding the pottery, production, patterns, "Unikat" or "Signature" pieces, etc...feel free to visit our Polish Pottery Info page at:
https://www.northstar-treasures.com/pages.php?pageid=5

Thanks again, and let me know if you have any other questions I can answer!

The Mystery Of Polish Sausage - What Is Kielbasa? -By Adam Marianski

2007-12-01T19:48:00.000-08:00

Most people think that kielbasa is the name of a particular Polish sausage which is not correct. Manufacturers use the name kielbasa to gain the credibility of a consumer and most books and Internet sites provide recipes which have little in common with sausages made in Poland.

Without a doubt the word Kielbasa has worldwide recognition, yet it is also often misunderstood. Kielbasa is the general Polish name for sausage. You cannot walk into a Polish store and say: please give me a pound of kielbasa.

The sales lady, surrounded by 50 different kinds of kielbasa, will inevitably reply: yes, but which one? There are well over 100 types of kielbasa, and the word itself is meaningless unless followed up with the proper name: Kielbasa Rzeszowska, Kielbasa Krakowska, Kielbasa Tuchowska, Kielbasa Mysliwska, etc. It is like going into a deli

and asking for some cheese. Sure, but which one: American, Provolone, Swiss, Gorgonzola, Gouda, Muenster - you have to provide some details. There is no specific sausage called kielbasa but there are many sausages that carry the word kielbasa as part of the name.

We know of only one sausage that carries the word “Polish” in its name and that is the Polish Smoked Sausage (Polska Kielbasa Wedzona). This is probably what the first immigrants brought with them to America. The problem we face here is that you can find Polish Smoked Sausage in almost every supermarket in the US, and no two are made the same way.

Yet Polish Smoked Sausage has been well defined for centuries and everybody in Poland knows what goes inside. We do not intend to become judges in this matter, but instead rely on Polish Government Standards for Polish Smoked Sausage. These rules have remained unchanged for the last 60 years.

Before we anger many people who have been making Polish Smoked Sausage in their own way for years, let’s clarify something further. It’s perfectly fine to add an ingredient that you or your children like into your sausage. You still have the full right to say that you made a better sausage than the famous Polish Smoked Sausage. You may say that your grandfather who came from Poland made the best Polish sausage in the world and we honor that. Maybe he

used chicken stock instead of water or maybe he added something else. What we are trying to say is that he was making his own version of the known classic or some other Polish sausage and it could have tasted better for you and your family. We do not dispute that fact. You can of course add anything you like to your sausage, but it will no longer be the original Polish Smoked Sausage (Polska Kielbasa Wedzona) or any other brand named sausage. Once you start changing ingredients, you create your own recipe and you may as well come up with your own name.1. For centuries Polish Smoked Sausage was made of pork, salt, pepper, garlic and marjoram (optional). Then in 1964 the Polish Government introduced a second version of the sausage that was made of 80% pork and 20% beef. All other ingredients: salt, pepper, sugar, garlic, and marjoram remain the same in both recipes. The marjoram is optional but the garlic is a must.

2. The meat is cured before it is mixed with spices. In the US Cure #1 (sodium nitrite plus salt) is used, in Europe

Peklosol (sodium nitrite plus salt) is common.

3. The sausage is stuffed into a large hog casing: 36 - 38 mm and formed into 12” (35 cm) links.

4. The traditional way was to cold smoke it for 1 to 1.5 days (it had to last for long time).

5. In most cases it is hot smoked today

A little test was performed to see how large American manufacturers make Polish Sausage. Four sausages called Polish Kielbasa or Polish Sausage were bought at the local supermarket in Florida and each of them was produced by a large and well known meat plant. The number of ingredients and chemicals used varied from 10 to 20 and different

combinations of meats were used: pork-beef-turkey, beef only, pork-beef. Except the name, none of the sausages had anything to do with the original.

It seems that for the manufacturers any sausage that is smoked (or have liquid smoke added) and stuffed into a 36 mm one foot long casing can be called Polish Smoked Sausage or Polish Kielbasa. It becomes quite clear that manufacturers put any ingredients they like inside of the casing and the name Polish Kielbasa is used just for credibility and to gain the trust of the consumer.

The problem is futher magnified by various sites on the Internet that provide countless recipes for making Polish sausages. Yet the mysterious Polish Smoked Sausage is embarrassingly simple to make and all it needs is pork, salt, pepper and garlic.

Adam Marianski has co-authored two books on meat smoking and making sausages. He runs the web site Wedliny Domowe where you can find more about making quality meats at home.

Polish Pottery Obsession

2007-12-01T19:38:00.000-08:00

The Polish Pottery obsession began when my mom first came home with a long-awaited soup tureen, which as it turned out, was her first piece of Boleslaweic pottery. Her obsession began quickly, and she kept mentioning this unique pottery through our phone conversations. My interest piqued...and I looked it up online.

Hmm...interesting...and very beautiful! But to see photos of it is nothing like USING it, and FEELING it!

So, when I came home for Christmas years ago with my husband, we immediately fell in love with it! Truth is, she made Popeye Pancakes in it (something she had ALWAYS made in her white Cornell baker), which was a meal I had claimed since going to college that I didn't really like. But this time it was in POLISH POTTERY, and it was delicious! A interesting coincidence? I think not!

Now my mom is an addict. Taking her to a Polish Pottery store is like taking a kid to a candy store...you have a hard time getting her to keep her hands to herself! (After all, her kitchen is FULL of Polish Pottery, but she still wants more! But who can blame her...you can never have enough of Polish ceramics!) The great thing is, I think my dad is addicted as well.

It seems to happen to the men, too! I met one man this past summer who was encouraging his wife to buy more and more Polish Pottery. And you know what his reasoning was? He said "I am the dishwasher...and nothing cleans up easier than this stuff!" I hadn't thought of pitching that concept to men before...but now I think I have a new way to catch men's attention, too!

So, Mom hooked my dad, they hooked my husband (and me), and we are currently hooking our 20 month old girl who things that Polish Pottery is a great noise-making toy (when clinked together, of course)! Sure she looks so sweet and demure in the photo above, but the truth is she's a feisty red-head who loves to play dangerously with the pottery, and hide goodies inside of the Polish jars. So, it seems that this obsession is becoming a family tradition! Who's next? Perhaps a family that actually has some Polish descent in their blood?