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Nicely shaped and decorated stoneware pie bird. Ceramika Artystyczna's high quality glaze makes it easy to clean, impervious to abrasives and the vibrant colors will never fade. As an extremely durable stoneware, it will not crack or chip easily.
Unikat pattern designed by artist Maria Iwicka. She has been connected with Artistic Handicraft Cooperative 'Ceramika Artystyczna' since 1981 and became a pattern designer in 1993.
What is a pie bird?
Pies with top crusts need to be vented, to allow steam to escape. A pie bird is a hollow device, originating in Europe, shaped like a funnel, chimney, or upstretched bird with open beak used for supporting or venting a pie.
What is the history of the pie bird?
Funnel-style steam vents have been placed in the center of fruit and meat pies during cooking since Victorian times; bird shapes came later. Pie funnels were used to prevent pie filling from boiling up and leaking through the crust by allowing steam to escape from inside the pie. They also supported the pastry crust in the center of the pie, so that it did not sag in the middle, and are occasionally known as "crustholders". Older ovens had more problems with uniform heating, and the pie bird prevented boil-over in pie cooking. The traditional inverted funnels, with arches on the bottom for steam to enter, were followed by ceramic birds; and from the 1940s they have been produced in a multitude of designs. This trend has been particularly noticeable in recent times, due to their increasing popularity as gifts and collectors' items rather than simply utilitarian kitchen tools.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pie_bird
About Polish Pottery from Boleslwiec, Poland:
Boleslawiec (Bowl-e-swa-vee-etz) is located on the Bobr River on the German and Czech border. This region of the world has been a potter's community dating to the 7th century. The stoneware is created from a unique white clay and fired in coal and gas ovens at temperatures in excess of 1350 degrees centigrade.
Ceramika Artystyczna, Polands premiere stoneware factory, opened its production in 1950. They are one of the oldest and most experienced makers of high quality stoneware in the world. Each piece is hand painted and initialed by skilled artisans. Designs created by this company have been highly awarded and have gained international recognition.
What does Unikat mean?
Artists that have earned a high level of excellence, design pieces from start to finish. These pieces are stamped with Unikat on the bottom and are signed by the designer.
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Features
- Size: 2" x 1.4" x 4.1" tall
- Made In Poland
- Dishwasher, microwave and oven safe up to 450F
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