Ceramics collection
The LNMH holds one of the oldest and largest ceramics collections in Latvia. The extensive collection of over 5,000 objects includes both household vessels – jugs, bowls, plates, salt cellars, sugar bowls, milk, jam and honey pots, pitchers and mugs – as well as decorative ceramics – candlesticks, vases, wall plates and small ceramic items.
The vessels date from the mid-19th century to the present day. The ceramics collection includes examples of traditional pottery from all regions of Latvia and pieces of ceramic art. The most widely represented artists are Andrejs Paulāns, Antons Šmulāns, Polikarps Čerņavskis, Ādams Kāpostiņš, Polikarps Vilcāns, Staņislavs Vilcāns, Antons Ušpelis (sen.), Kārlis Volgemūts, Jānis Krievs, Gustavs Ozoliņš, Vilhelms Ūdrass, Ansis Cīrulis, Jēkabs Dranda, Aleksandrs Sirotins and Pēteris Šteinbergs.
The first ceramic objects were gathered as early as the end of the 19th century; later, the ethnographic expeditions organised by the Monuments Board in the 1920s–1940s made a significant contribution to the collection.
During this period, a number of private collections were included in the Museum’s collection. In 1928, the Museum acquired the extensive collection of Eduards Paeglis and Alma Birģele-Paegle, which consisted of 4,500 objects, over 600 of which were ceramics. Ceramic items from the collections of Mērija Grīnberga (sen.), Antonijs Kazimirs Rēmers, Arvīds Dzērvītis, Jānis Rieksts and Osvalds Kaņeps have also been added to the Museum’s collection. Several thousand ceramic items were purchased during the Soviet occupation.
The ceramics collection continues to be supplemented by works of contemporary ceramicists, reflecting the continuity of traditional pottery skills, vessel forms and decorations.
Curator of the collection Anna Bartkeviča
In order to research the museum’s collection in person, those interested are invited to fill out the contact form, indicating the topic of interest and the chronology. After receiving the form, a museum specialist will contact you.