Platter with a bust of Stephen Báthory

In the 1880s a majolica factory was established in Nieborów on the estate of Prince Michał Piotr Radziwiłł. On the initiative of the estate's owner Stanisław Thiele, who was responsible for organizing and producing the ceramics. He also designed dishes, creating both the form and decoration, drawing patterns from well-known examples from French majolica factories. Vivid colours, a patch of colour often surrounded by an outline, expressive painting and a characteristic selection of motifs make up the original and easily recognisable style of Nieborów's majolica.

Such production was a new phenomenon and very appreciated in Polish circles. In the times of the Partitions of Poland, however, there was a demand to introduce patriotic motifs, the content of which would refer to comforting events from the Polish past, restoring hope for a better future. The sometimes harsh criticism on the part of the press influenced the Nieborów production. New types of compositions were presented, native landscapes, episodes from the history of Poland, as well as a series of vessels depicting kings.

Medieval rulers were depicted based on imaginary 19th-century portraits known from newspaper illustrations. Later portraits, on the other hand, may have been composed using realistic representations from the period, preserved and popularized in prints.

Thanks to the outstanding painters working for rulers, representative portraits were created. At the end of the 16th century, the court painter of King Stefan Batory, Marcin Kober, had great merit in this field. The portrait painted by him shows a ruler full of majesty, with a lively look and characteristic attire. Later depictions of King Stefan Batory refer to the 16th-century suggestive original. Widely known in the artistic circles was Poczet królów i książąt polskich [Portraits of Polish Kings and Princes] with drawings by Jan Matejko. It is possible that this publication inspired designers of ceramics from Nieborów.

Magdalena Norkowska