The ceramics workshop of Saint Elisabeth monastery has been gladdening the hearts of the customers with handmade ceramics since 1998. Along with the icon-painting and the stone-placer workshops, it was founded among the first at the dawn of the convent’s history.
In service for more than 20 years, the ceramics studio performs the full cycle of production from design to the delivery of the finished product. The studio’s products can be found in private collections across the world - in Belarus, Russia, Poland, Germany and elsewhere.
The beauty of its handmade ceramic products is truly timeless. The studio’s ceramics are produced under their own brand name Ella Ceramica in honor of the Venerable Martyr Grand Duchess Elisabeth. Exclusive souvenirs, church plates and, most importantly, refined ceramic tableware, already beautifying quite a few festive tables, are crafted here manually.
Every item is the only one of its kind. Throughout the production process, from design to delivery, we rely on a combination of innovation and the more traditional and time-tested techniques.
Handmade ceramic tableware offered by the workshop comprises the following goods limited edition: jugs, mugs for the holy water, cups, saucers, sugar basins and teapots – enough elements to put together a charming tea-set. All tableware is made solely to convey the beauty of creation and the exuberance of the soul. It will bring joy to its owners for decades to come.
Each cup, being a small work of art, blooms in ornate patterns in the master’s hands. The sisters are inspired with byzantine motives, traditional Russian painting and landscapes as well as Russian fairy-tales. Small and large ceramic tableware jars are decorated in gilded thematic patterns and inscriptions with greetings “Happy Holiday!” and “Happy Angel’s Day!”. Besides that, our assortment offers entertaining ceramics for kids. Such articles are smaller than usual to fit the child’s hand and your boy or girl will eagerly drink anything you offer from the favourite cup.
Various souvenirs produced in the workshop are also to the taste of our customers. Those are sonorous painted bells, exquisite ceramic angels, exclusive handmade candlesticks shaped like churches, each of them filled with diligence and love. Kids are truly delighted with such gifts!
All ceramics are made solely by hand in the workshop. First comes the product design of the future project followed in turn by materials processing. Plaster casts are used to shape raw clay correctly. Billets are baked in a kiln and then glazed making them resistant to damage and, moreover, even and smooth. Smooth surface is suitable for painting.
Various methods of hand painting are practiced in the workshop, for example, the on-glaze painting, decorating with decal and sgraffito. The technique of carving into wet clay before baking so that the drawing acquires three-dimensionality called relief decoration is of utmost interest.
The technique of painting on wet enamel is traditional and has existed for a long time. The products made in this technique display a great variety of composition and have a unique and inimitable texture. Gilding makes pottery and souvenirs look luxurious and festive.
The process of painting on the surface of a ceramic piece resembles watercolour painting to a certain extent. The Ella Ceramica products made with this technique will add an air of elegance and refinement to the atmosphere of your home.
Decal is a technique that has been around for many decades. In it, a transfer picture, separated from the paper substrate in water, is placed on the surface of a porcelain item. The picture becomes firmly affixed to the item’s surface after firing. The large variety of pictures and themes will bring joy and comfort to your home.
Each ceramic article is diligently and lovingly hand painted by the masters gaining unique and unrepeatable features. Unsurprisingly so, since it is impossible to paint two objects identically.
Time does not stand still in the ceramic workshop of Saint Elisabeth monastery. The artisans master new techniques trying to come with novel artistic approaches. On your request they will eagerly develop individual designs and decorations for gifts that will bring long-lasting coziness and warmth to your home.
Our artists offer product design and unique stylistic solutions in graphics and painting. We receive orders for designing and production of exclusive, collectible decals.
