Jardiniere

Maiolica is a specific type of colourful ceramics that began to be produced in Poland only around 1880, in the manufactory in Ćmielów, under the direction of Stanisław Thiele, educated in France. His activity in Ćmielów was a short episode in his professional life. Thiele devoted all his energy to the manufactory in Nieborów, whose work he continued even after Prince Michał Piotr Radziwiłł, the owner of the Nieborów estate, had lost interest in maiolica.

The years 1882-1885 were the period of the most dynamic activity of the maiolica manufacture in Nieborów. During that best period, it employed around a hundred workers and was successful in the domestic and European markets. Some of the ceramics were decorated by Prince Radziwill himself, who both designed and painted the tops. It is indicated by the black monogram – MR – appearing on some of the vessels, placed next to the factory's signature — PMR, under the Prince's crown. A jardiniere with handles in the form of dragons from the Lublin collection is provided with the monogram A S, the decorator who sketchily painted the vessel with native landscapes, next to the maker's signature. Genre scenes and landscapes, frequent in the decoration of these wares, were painted with lightness, sketchiness, great skill and a good sense of colour.

The unique character of this pottery, even without signatures, does not raise doubts as to its origin. The form and decoration of the preserved ceramics from Nieborów confirm that decorativeness, rather than utility or practicality, was the essential thing for their makers. It is for this reason that majolica from Nieborów, today as in the past, arouses controversy. Some admire it, and others consider it an example of kitsch and bad taste.

In the years of the manufacture's activity, its products had as many opponents as supporters, and the Warsaw press of that time was full of polemical texts on the artistic expression and value of colourful maiolica. Important voices in the polemic were articles written by, among others, Bolesław Prus, Wojciech Gerson and Maria Konopnicka.

Magdalena Norkowska