In Poland, especially during the communist period, mosaics of various kinds were often used in architecture as a way to decorate private homes and public buildings. Unfortunately, many of these works are today in danger of being destroyed. At the end of January this year, just such an incident occurred in Pruszków. The developer NS Real Estate demolished a house at 58 Chopina Street, the facades of which were decorated with mosaics made of ballast and various types of vessels. The destruction of the work, which was a decorative element and a testimony to local history, sparked outrage among residents, art lovers and Internet users. However, the developer’s representatives assure that the porcelain mosaic has been partially saved.
Porcelite mosaic – history and characteristics
The mosaic, which adorns, among other things, the columns and side wall of the building, was an exceptional example of the use of porcelite pieces by famous designers for more than half a century. Plates, cups, vases, occasional platters, samples of new glazes, ikebans or jugs by, among others, Janina Asłanowicz, Wiesława Gołajewska, Danuta Duszniak, Zofia Przybyszewska, Jan Kantorek and Wiesław Niewiedzielski were used to create the work. Its existence was strongly linked to the activities of the now-defunct ‘Pruszków’ Porcelite Table Works, which for decades had been an important point on the map of Polish industrial design. One of the main defenders of the mosaic was Krzysztof Ciechoński, who runs a Facebook fanpage dedicated to the Pruszków porcelite factory. In social media, he expressed his disappointment and regret, emphasising that he had tried to intervene many times to preserve it.
“I made several attempts to intervene and to contact the developer, unfortunately I was given information about the board’s holiday, plans to develop into part of the building this mosaic, but today the developer has made decisions to destroy every piece of this building. It is sad that he has not even made an attempt to contact me or the city to consolidate this extremely interesting site.” – ciechoński wrote on the profile “Zakłady Porcelitu Stołowego Pruszków”.
Conservator’s reaction – announcement of audit
The Pruszków mosaic was not protected as a monument, but the Mazovian Provincial Conservator of Monuments, Marcin Dawidowicz, has launched an audit across Mazovia to identify and protect similar works in the region. The historic mosaics are to be added to the register of monuments. The Pruszków incident provided the impetus for this action.
Investment plans and the memory of history
The demolished building will be replaced by a new residential complex, whose appearance is to refer to the architecture of the 20th inter-war period. Meanwhile, a wave of criticism has poured in on the developer for destroying the mosaic. As NS Nieruchomości Sp. z o.o.’s management board plenipotentiary, Tomasz Romański, explained in an interview with PAP, both the building and the porcelain elements were in a disastrous state. The house had stood abandoned for a long time and no one cared about its fate. The attorney also added that fragments of the mosaic had been preserved and would be analysed in order to make the best use of them. The developer has been in talks with the Pruszków authorities about the possibility of handing them over to the city or to private individuals who will want to save this piece of history.
History of the Porcelite Table Works “Pruszków”
For many Pruszków residents, the history of the Table Porcelite Works remains an important part of local identity. The factory, founded in 1872, specialised in the production of faience dishes and decorative ceramics for decades. After nationalisation in 1946, the company developed dynamically, introducing innovative designs and technologies that made it recognisable on the Polish market. Unfortunately, despite its rich heritage, the factory ceased operations at the beginning of the 21st century.
A porcelain mosaic from Pruszków. Will other works share its fate?
Another valuable element of the urban space and an irreplaceable memento of the famous factory has disappeared from the map of Pruszków, but this practice is unfortunately taking place all over the country. Will the conservation audit prevent similar losses in the future? The answer to this question will be provided by the next decisions of the authorities and investors.
Source: Zakłady Porcelitu Stołowego “Pruszków”, rdc.pl, pap.pl, onet.pl
Photos: Krzysztof Ciechoński and Ewa Golis
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Facade | Detail | Ceramics | Mosaic | whiteMAD on Instagram
