Opishnia ceramics is one of the traditional Ukrainian ceramics, which is included in the list of intangible cultural heritage of Ukraine. And its production comes from a unique pottery center located in the village of Opishnia in the Poltava Region.
The National Museum of Decorative Arts of Ukraine keeps a significant collection of these ceramics. With joint efforts, we digitized 20 products that were made in the 19th and mostly in the 20th century, when pottery artilles were created.
From the end of the 19th century, Opishnia ceramics became the talk of the world. Specialists-collectors were located far beyond the borders of Poltava region, and the products went to the countries of Europe and America.
For many residents of Opishnia pottery was the only source of income.
What is special about Opishnia ceramics?
Craftsmen use only local gray clay, which turns light yellow after firing. The manufacturing process takes from 30 to 40 days, and the craftsmen work without preliminary sketches.
These are household and decorative dishes, various sculptures of small forms and children’s toys. Products are generously decorated mainly with floral ornaments and compositions. In addition, there is a tradition: the works of a husband-potter must be in the hands of his wife-painter. So the works were mostly decorated by women.
Digitized works
Among the digitized products of Opishnia ceramics are quite ancient specimens. Like, for example, a vessel in the form of a lion, was created in the 19th century. Its author is unknown, and the importance of products from Opishnia was only gaining momentum.
Among the digitized products are the works of famous masters from the Poshivayl dynasty and the Selyuchenko Oleksandra sculptor.
Oleksandra created 1,000 works and was considered an unsurpassed master of clay toys. Having no children, she worried about the future fate of her products as if they were alive: “…How will they be delivered? I am eager as if they are children. The pressure rose, and the head hurt. You are my relatives, you have left home forever.”
