Kashubian Ceramics Workshop Neclów in Chmielno - a place filled with family tradition

In the Neclów pottery workshop, all kinds of decorative and functional vessels were and still are made. These include mugs, tankards, bowls, plates (also very traditional ones, i.e. those on which meals were once served to farmers working in the field), teapots, pots and lids, sugar bowls, butter dishes, thimbles, and even clocks!

The History of the Neclów Family

The history of Neclów ceramics in Chmielno begins in 1897, when its first creator - Franciszek Necel, representing the seventh generation of this pottery family, moved to Chmielno. Thirty-one-year-old Franciszek Necel VII, together with his wife Amalia, settled in a purchased cottage - picturesque located by Białe Lake. It was then that Franciszek's family began to grow year by year. In his eldest son, Leon, Franciszek placed all his hopes, and as it later turned out, he was not disappointed at all….

The incredible story of this family is described on the Kashubian Ceramics Workshop Neclów website and will certainly captivate the reader. Read more

The Establishment of the Kashubian Ceramics Museum Neclów

The museum began to take shape in 1993, when among activists of the Kashubian-Pomeranian Association in Chmielno, the idea arose to create a ceramics museum in the workshop. This idea met with approval and financial support from the local municipal authorities as well as recognition from the Neclów and Elas families. Ryszard was especially pleased, who actively and with the expertise typical of the entire Neclów dynasty joined the work aimed at preparing historical documentation illustrating the history of Neclów ceramics.

The exhibition was arranged from ceramic products which, thanks to the generosity of children and their parents, found their way to the Primary School in Chmielno. This was their significant contribution to rescuing and preserving Neclów ceramics for contemporary and future generations and to present it to tourists visiting Chmielno.

The official opening of the Kashubian Ceramics Museum Neclów took place on June 23, 1993, which coincided with the 70th anniversary of the visit of President of the Republic of Poland Stanisław Wojciechowski to Franciszek Necel's workshop. Currently, the museum operates as the Kashubian Ceramics Workshop Neclów.

What Does the Neclów Workshop Look Like?

On the first floor of the workshop, you can both watch the potter's work on the potter’s wheel and try your hand at the art of "shaping" pots yourself.

It is also worth taking a closer look at the finished, already shaped vessels which, placed on shelves, dry and await further processing. In this room, you can also find a painter sitting, who skillfully applies the Neclów patterns onto the vessels fired for the first time.

On the top floor of the workshop, there is an exhibition of ceramics from three generations of the Neclów family, arranged in display cases allowing us to admire and compare the craftsmanship with which they were made. Here you can also learn about the rich history of the Neclów family, who have been creating in Chmielno for over 100 years.

You can also admire diplomas and awards that have been given to the Neclów family for their artistry and contribution to the development of Kashubian folk culture. On the wall proudly display the Neclów ceramic patterns, which have been passed down from generation to generation unchanged and still decorate their ceramics today. An interesting exhibit is also the potter’s wheel standing by the entrance, often called a "toczek". It is an old type of potter’s wheel from 1936, operated by feet, which for many years was used by Leon Necel, the continuator of Franciszek Necel's ceramic tradition.

The guides for the exhibition as well as for the whole workshop are Karol and his brother Rafał, who can tell long and interesting stories about their great ancestors. Almost at the very bottom is the most important part of the workshop, what Ryszard called the "heart" of every pottery workshop. This is the room housing the kiln for firing ceramics. Here ends the hard work of the potter, when after the second firing, the vessel is taken out of the kiln, you can only admire the effect of his work. The kiln, still used today for the first firing, was built by the Kartuska Cepelia during the years 1954-1955 when expanding the workshop to increase its production.

Souvenir Sales at the Neclów Workshop

The workshop also sells finished vessels. There you can purchase beautiful ceramic souvenirs that will always remind you of your stay in Chmielno and encourage you to return to the Kashubian region.

Workshop Opening Hours

• April – October:
  Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  Saturday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

• November – March:
  Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  Saturday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

• Sundays and Holidays:
  closed

Film about the Kashubian Ceramics Workshop Neclów in Chmielno

Commissioned by the Kashubian Tourist Association in 2020, a film was made about the Kashubian Ceramics Museum Neclów (now renamed to Kashubian Ceramics Workshop Neclów), located in Chmielno. You can watch it HERE.