Room
Ryszard Necel’s pottery
The ninth generation, the recovered workshop and the creation of the exhibition.
Content language
Ryszard Necel began learning pottery in 1954, aged fourteen. Leon’s son, he represented the ninth generation of the family. His first pieces were small forms: miniature vases, candlesticks and egg cups. He gained his master’s qualification in 1965. After his father’s death he continued the family craft, producing large vases, plates, tankards and paired pots. His urns drew on archaeological finds from around Chmielno. He became particularly skilled at repeating the shapes of hand-thrown vessels.
On 12 May 1979, he recovered the family workshop from the cooperative after 29 years and could again decide how it operated. In the early 1990s, difficulties selling pottery and buying materials interrupted activity open to visitors. In 1993 he helped create the exhibition, sharing documents and family memories for the historical display. He also taught his nephew Karol Elas, who adopted the surname Necel and continued the craft. Ryszard died in January 1996; his work was preserved in the family collection.
For children
Ryszard began learning pottery when he was fourteen. At first he made small objects such as little vases and egg cups. In time he learned to throw large vessels too. He was the ninth generation of potters in the Necel family.
For many years the workshop belonged to a cooperative. Ryszard recovered it for the family in 1979. He later helped prepare the exhibition by sharing documents and telling his relatives’ story. He also taught his nephew Karol. Knowledge of clay, the wheel and decoration passed to another family member. Ryszard’s work remained on display after his death in 1996.
Question 1 of 2