the zanger company

I found this on the Connecticut "Things to Do" website. It really isn't a "thing to do", more "things to covet/buy". Consummate shopper that I am, I was interested...I checked their website out, as I am less than enthralled by the standard brown/blue Polish pottery one sees everywhere and wanted to see if that was what it was. No! It was multicoloured and looked quite impressive. Online the prices seemed a bit high for some things but other things (small things - coasters, tea bag holders, napkin rings, sachets) seemed within bounds. Easy to find, easy parking, right down the pike from Bradley International. The people are knowledgeable and nice. But...The prices were, ahem, a bit shocking. For folk-type pottery (no 24k paint, much handpainted but much hand-stenciled or so it would appear) I found it exhorbitant. Things I had seen online seemed much more costly except for a few things which were reduced. E.g., there was a muffin pan I loved...$129. Tea bag holder? $24. Four simple coasters would set you back almost $100. I did pick up a few small things but I was really surprised by the prices (and in a warehouse setting). There is a lot of selection, and they keep ongoing inventory (very organized). There were a few bargains here and there. But all in all, unless you are shopping for a nice wedding gift, are a collector and can't find a piece anywhere else (I bought a small Polish rabbit figurine with the simpler multicoloured floral painting on it last year in Southbury at a gift shop - $9.98), or if you have money to burn, intend to buy.Otherwise just peruse and admire the handiwork. In other words, make it just a "thing to do", museum-style.

I am a collector of polish pottery and found this place while searching the internet. It is definitely a place that you could spend a lot of time if you are at all interested in buying polish pottery. They have a wide variety of items that are placed all over the floor, shelves, tables, where ever there was free space there were items placed. Most items do not have a price on them, but the owner was very helpful and knew many of the prices by heart, if not she would look them up. This is not like going into your department store and shopping, it's a bit messy and disorganized, but if you are OK with not having everything perfectly laid out this is a great stop. I definitely found some bargains and wished I lived closer so I could stop more often.