Museum of Silesian Porcelain

Muzeum Porcelany Śląskiej

Silesian Porcelain Museum in Tułowice, where history meets unique craftsmanship, brought back to life in the premises of the former porcelain factory, founded in 1886 by the Schlegelmilch family from Thuringia. Over the years, until its closure in 2001, the factory was one of the largest and most prestigious porcelain manufacturers in Silesia and enjoyed recognition not only in Europe but also in the United States, where the majority of the production was exported from the beginning of the 20th century until the outbreak of World War I.

Thanks to the efforts of the Foundation for the Protection of Silesian Industrial Heritage, the restored porcelain factory has begun a new chapter as the Silesian Porcelain Museum after years of conservation work.

The museum offers visitors not only the opportunity to admire products from 12 Silesian manufacturers, which are often the only testimonies of factories that no longer exist, but also the chance for a journey through time in a theatrical setting that presents porcelain from various epochs and styles.

The museum was created on the site of a porcelain production facility closed in 2001, founded in 1886 by the Schlegelmilch family who came here from Thuringia. Before 1945, the Factory in Tułowice was one of the largest porcelain manufacturers in Silesia. The products, due to their quality and design, were well-known in Europe and the USA. From the beginning of the 20th century until World War I, most of the production was directed to the USA, where the Factory in Tułowice had its representations. After World War II, the facility continued to produce porcelain. In 1976, it was expanded. It significantly increased production, focusing on popular porcelainite products. Production ended in 2001.

In April of this year, after 9 years of restoration work, the restored factory began a new life. Thanks to the efforts of the Silesian Industrial Heritage Protection Foundation team, the carefully restored factory became the Silesian Porcelain Museum. The historic interiors shelter products from 12 Silesian manufacturers. Often these are the only traces of those old factories.

Visiting the Museum is a journey through time. In a theatrical setting, porcelain products from different epochs and styles are presented. In the historic interiors, one can see how trends in art were transferred to porcelain products. Porcelain in the style of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, or modernism decorates the halls. The visit is accompanied by the sounds of the past, the hum of machines, the buzz of cafes, or the heated discussions of owners about production directions. One can look into the factory management rooms, the accounting department, or marketing.

A unique attraction is an authentic workshop where one can learn about the porcelain designers’ craft.

The Museum organizes workshops on making and decorating porcelain.

For collectors, it is a place to organize conferences, meetings, and auctions of historic porcelain.
The purpose of the Museum is to document and make available traces of the development of porcelain production in Silesia. The Museum is registered in the registry of museums maintained by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. The Museum is part of the network of technical museums of the Silesian Industrial Heritage Protection Foundation.

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