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May 15, 07, 16:53 #1
Anybody visiting Poland will be surprised by the range and diversity of folk art and handicrafts that have endured for many years. There is an impressive amount of them in markets and galleries all over the country. What is more, you can even encounter them on the parking areas of major tourist sites. And yet, during the long Communist period, popular artistic expression, often connected with religious or pagan beliefs, was not encouraged. Despite all this, handicraft, like folk dancing and regional costumes, was so dear to the heart of the Poles that they could not do without them. To this day, Poland is well known for its handicraft goods and folk art that are deeply rooted in Polish tradition.
Some of the greatest attractions for tourists in Poland are products such as: hand-woven tapestries, embroidered tablecloths and doilies which are part of the folk art of many regions of Poland. They are usually sold in Cepelia shops scattered all around the country, especially in big cities. You can spot them in Cracow, where most of the shops that sell these goods are located, in Sukiennice in Main Market Square. In Gdansk, for example, the shop that specializes in artifacts made by folk artists from Kashubia ( the region of the finest embroidery in Poland ) is the retail outlet Sklep Kaszubski.
Designer jewelry, another high-profile Polish craft, as well as amber products are also attractive. Amber is an especially renowned raw material in Poland. It is a fossilized tree resin that ranges in color from cream through translucent yellow and orange to rich brown. It is considered to be the symbol of the Baltic, a precious gift that many contemporary designers continue to cut. The translucent material is turned into jewelry that is extremely popular in Poland. What is more, as amber artifacts epitomize Polish craftsmanship, amber is also used for lampshades, medals or clocks.
Porcelain manufacture, in both traditional and modern designs, is another Polish specialty. The most popular porcelain from Cmielow is available all over Poland. Extremely renowned are also traditional ceramics such as those made in Boleslawiec, especially the white and navy-blue crockery lavishly decorated with either flowers or circles.
Poland has also a long tradition of high-quality cut glass- widely known as crystal. The most beautiful cut glass is made in many Silesian factories where glass production started as early as the 14th century. The delicate hand-cut patterns on perfectly transparent glass are famous all over the world.
Another tradition requiring extreme precision is that of Easter egg decorating. Nobody in Poland can imagine the Easter table without decorated Easter eggs widely known as Pisanki. Although the tradition of painting eggs has its origins in the Carpathian regions, they can be purchased all over Poland. Beautifully painted, some patterns are also created by scratching into the shell or applying paper and ribbons.
Although almost every region has its own specialty-the Podhale region is one of the most famous for its original folk products. Woolen highland pullovers, hand-knitted socks, leather kierpce (traditional highland moccasins) are especially renowned among tourists.
As we can see the range of folk art and handicrafts in Poland is truly impressive. The Poles' strong attachment to their roots contributes to maintaining the country's cultural identity. The growing tourist industry will certainly not stop the expansion of these crafts. On the contrary, as Poland is more aware of the attraction this wealth of traditional folklore has on foreigners, it will expand more in the future and become even stronger.
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