I've been buying Polish Pottery since 1999, and have found a couple of very helpful and insightful things for every one to know about this wonderful pottery.

1st: The two largest pottery producers are Zaklady, and CA(ceramika artystyczna).  Their pottery can stand the test of time as long as you are buying 1st quality.  I have found that the Zaklady pottery holds up longer.

2nd:  If you shop in Poland, you will find that alot of stores that sell the pottery from the factories have pottery that is marked with the first quality stickers, but are not 1st quality.  This is because the shop keepers know that Americans will mostly buy 1st quality, therefore they get sheets of the first quality stickers, and place them on the pottery. The factories sell 2nd-5th quality pieces to these stores at reduced prices. 1st quality pieces have no flaws...so if you see an auction that states an item is 1st quality, but may have some imperfections...it's not 1st quality.  I know this because I have talked personally to both shop keepers and the factory managers.  There is really nothing wrong with second quality other than a pattern flaw, but if there are skips in the glaze or cracks or stones and bubbles...this is 5th quality, and only good for display.

Best thing to do is ask ALOT of questions about the condition of the pottery BEFORE you bid.  W&R,Wiza,Dana,and Cergor pottery does NOT hold up well .  Manufactura pottery holds up better, but not as well as Zaklady and Ca.

Unikat pieces are more collectable and expensive...and are signed and numbered.