The Municipal Museum in Bolesławiec was founded in 1908. At the end of World War II, the museum’s collections were completely dispersed, only the building survived.

The present Museum has been active since 1953, gathering mainly collections of Bolesławiec stoneware and European ceramics. The permanent exhibition includes the oldest vessels from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, discovered during archaeological excavations, ribbed jugs covered with brown earthenware, smooth-bellied jugs covered with white overlays, vessels with antique motifs designed by J.G. Altmann, the first vessels decorated with the stamp method, vessels from the Bolesławiec Vocational School of Ceramics and products of former local workshops, including those of J. Paul, H. Reinhold, K. Randhahn, R. Burdack and K. Werner. The richness of  form and ornamentation of Bolesławiec pottery is astonishing: in addition to stamps, stain, crystalline and mirror glazes, marquetry, as well as brush, horn and spray paints were also used.

After World War II, ceramic traditions were continued. T. Szafran – a professor at the State School of Decorative Arts in Krakow, re-instated the production in several plants. The “Ceramika Artystyczna” Artistic Handicraft Cooperative, launched a little later, started a cooperation with the State Higher School of Fine Arts in Wrocław from the very beginning. The first designs for the plant were made by students of the Ceramics Faculty under guidance of professors R. Krzywiec and J. Kotarbińska. The Museum received the designs by I. Zdrzałka, A. Szurmińska-Krępowa, A. Różańska, B. Wolanin, W. Matus and by the designer of the “Bolesławiec” Ceramic Works – J. Bany-Kozłowska. At the exhibition you can see, among others, a white and blue set on which an onboard meal was served to the Holy Father John Paul II, during his departure from the country on June 10, 1997. The set had been made at the “Ceramika Artystyczna” Cooperative.