Eggs-ellent: Designer Egg Cups from Poland

no-image, Eggs-ellent: Designer Egg Cups from Poland

There's no wrong time to enjoy a good egg – some people enjoy them scrambled with their toast in the morning, others hard-boiled as a midnight snack. How about making your eggs extra fancy? Culture.pl has selected seven delightful designer egg cups straight from Poland to brighten up your breakfast table.

Bolesławiec

Jajeczniki, photo: https://www.e-manufaktura.com — Egg cups, photo: https://www.e-manufaktura.com

Let’s begin with a classic. One of Poland’s most famous ceramic factories, Bolesławiec gained the status of one of the most important European ceramic hubs as early as the 16^th century. It remains one of the largest manufacturers of handmade pottery today. Each piece is decorated by hand using a unique stamping technique.

Bolesławiec offers three types of perches for your eggs: the standard egg cup, a more modern, square model and an egg plate. They all have one thing in common – patterns galore! The ceramic manufacturer is famous for its colourful prints – from the classic white polka dots on a rich blue background, to bright and springy floral patterns. Today, Bolesławiec keeps coming out with new patterns and has begun working with contemporary designers, such as Dorota Koziara, to create modern takes on classic pottery.

Ceramics from Bolesławiec also happen to be some of the most popular souvenirs to bring back from Poland – and it’s no surprise! Their pottery is bound to be a great Easter gift for family from abroad.

Ćmielów & Chodzież

Egg cups: Chodzież Iwona Złoty Pasek B014, Ćmielów Feston Złoty Pasek 3604 & Iwona Biały C000, photo: www.porcelanaisztucce.pl

Another classic. The Ćmielów and Chodzież Polish Porcelain Factory is the biggest factory in Europe producing thin-walled porcelain. It was formed by the merger of two of the oldest porcelain factories in Poland: Ćmielow Porcelain Works and Chodzież China.

Today, their porcelain is produced in three styles: classic, modern and avant-garde. The contemporary line is created at the innovative Ćmielów Design Studio, founded in 2013 by the artist and designer Marek Cecuła. It was the first studio of its kind in Europe, where artists and designers from around the globe can create their own porcelain collections.

Thanks to their different lines, they have quite a range of different egg cups to choose from. If you prefer traditional china, you can go with the Iwona model – available in plain white or with delicate floral designs. If you are, however, torn between tradition and modernity, try Iwona with a Gold Stripe. Want to go all out designer? You’ll probably like the Feston with a Gold Stripe – simple and classy, just right for your Easter table.

Kristoff

Yet another Silesian porcelain giant (sensing a pattern here?). Kristoff Porcelain (once known as Porcelana Krzysztof) is one of the leading porcelain manufacturers in Poland and one of the oldest porcelain factories in Silesia. Established 1831, porcelain from this factory already made its way around the globe as early as the 19^th century.

Kristoff’s porcelain is strongly rooted in tradition, however, they are not afraid to step into the 21^st century. A few years ago Kristoff began working with young and up-and-coming Polish designers such as Agnieszka Dybowska, Marek Mielnicki, Ania Kuczyńska, Kaja Kusztra, Tomasz Walenta, Magda Pilaczyńska, Maria Jeglińska, Piotr Stolarski, Tymek Jezierski and Alicja Patanowska. Each one created their own unique collections. The collections by Kusztra, Pilaczyńska and Jeglińska also include egg cups.

Kusztra’s, from her Great Inventors collection, is a modern take on a classic – a delicate standard white form, filled to the brim (and over!) with bold silver. The egg cup matches the rest of the collection which presents illustrations of great inventors such as Nikola Tesla and Ada Lovelace along with short descriptions, and which is based on the classic Fryderyk line.

Flamingo egg cup, Kristoff Design Line, photo: https://porcelanowa.com

Pilaczyńska’s White Breakfast collection includes two kinds of egg cups: one more traditional, the other more modern. Both, as well as the entire set, are adorned with an adorable illustration of a flamingo in pastel pink and the cheerful words ‘Halo, mon cheri!’ in her handwriting.

Nathalie&George egg cup, designed by Maria Jeglińska, photo: https://www.kristoffdesignline.pl

Jeglińska’s award-winning collection Nathalie&George is inspired by two post-modern designers Nathalie du Pasquier and George Sowden. It features some of Jeglińska’s signature squiggles. The egg cup in this collection is simple, yet intriguing. Functional, yet fun. In her own words:

The combination of differences turned out to be much more interesting than simply repeating the same pattern on each element of the set.

Polish Table

Tradition meets modernity. Lower Silesia is very proud of their ceramic heritage – and rightly so. The Polish Table (Polski Stół) was an innovative project in which three Lower Silesian ceramics manufacturers joined forces for the first time ever: Porcelana Kristoff from Wałbrzych, Bolesławiec and Huta Julia from Piechowice created the Polish Table.

The Polish Table consists of two breakfast sets and a collection of fancy china which combine traditional craftsmanship with modern designs.

This unsual egg cup in one of the Polish Table breakfast sets could easily mistaken for a wine glass. Made by Huta Julia, the egg cup is made of crystal and goes beautifully with the ceramic mug and plate that were made to go with it. It may be a surprising combination, but it is sure to go well with your special holiday china!

Społem

This is a different kind of classic. Hailing from 1868, it is from the years of Poland under the communist regime that we remember Społem. PSS Społem started out as a Polish consumers' co-operative of local grocery stores. Under the communist regime, PSS Społem built a number of modernist grocery stores around the country. Some of the stores are still around today and their iconic logo (designer unknown!) is still visible on the streets of Poland.

These egg cups have are incredibly simple and functional – the Społem logo is just enough. Fun fact: they are actually vintage! Made by the Lubiana Porcelain Tableware Works in the 1970s.

Kalva

These contemporary egg cups are simple, yet delightful. The small porcelain manufacturer Kalva, a family-run business, believes strongly that one should start their day surrounding themselves with beautiful objects – a guarantee general well-being.

The egg cups in their collection are adorned with cute drawings of different creatures such as a racoon or a hedgehog and light colourful feathers. They are bound to put you in a good mood.

August Design Studio x Tabanda

Birds egg cups, designed by Tabanda & August Design Studio, photo: www.tabanda.pl/ — Birds egg cups, designed by Tabanda & August Design Studio, photo: www.tabanda.pl

Modern design at its best. The Birds collection is a collaboration between the ceramic studio August Design Studio and the Gdańsk-based furniture designer Tabanda – a perfect combination of design and craft.

Birds is a playful and elegant collection of ceramics which consists of two sizes of cups, a pair of egg cups and two bowls. Each piece has an oak lid, which can also be used as a coaster. The design is raw and natural – a look achieved by only glazing the inside of the dishes – and will look great on any table.

And a BONUS! The Egg Cap

Egg Cap, designed by Michał Mojduszka, Ćmielów Design, photo: www.porcelana-cmielow.pl — Egg Cap, designed by Michał Mojduszek, Ćmielów Design, photo: www.porcelana-cmielow.pl

For all of you who want to make sure they can transport their eggs safely from one family gathering to the next… presenting the Egg Cap.

The Egg Cap was presented by Ćmielów at the Ambiente design fair in Frankfurt. Designed by Michał Mojduszek, it is a porcelain container for an egg – on one hand, it keeps the egg hot, on the other, it makes it much easier to peel it. At the same time, it can serve as a classic egg cup, and you can use the top to get rid of unwanted pieces of shell. The Egg Cap comes in four colours: off white, dirty pink, blue and dark grey.

No matter how (and in what) you have your eggs – enjoy them!

_{Sources: porcelana-cmielow.pl, kalva.pl, yestersen.pl, kristoffdesignline.pl, porcelanowa.com, porcelanaisztucce.pl, e-manufaktura.com}

Compiled by NR, Mar 2018

Language English

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contemporary polish design

contemporary polish designers