Polikarps Vilcāns (26 January 1894 – 8 May 1969) was a
Latvia
Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to t ...
Silajāņi Parish
Silajāņi Parish (, ) is an administrative unit of Preiļi Municipality in the Latgale region of Latvia. At the beginning of 2014, the population of the parish was 456. The administrative center is village.
Towns, villages and settlements of S ...
,
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...
in 1894. He learned the craft of ceramicist from his father Joahims and successfully fired his first kiln at the age of 16. After the 1917 October Revolution, Vilcāns fought against the Kolchak's army in the Eastern Front.
He and Paulāns were the first Latgalian ceramicists to create a large
candlestick
A candlestick is a device used to hold a candle in place. Candlesticks have a cup or a spike ("pricket") or both to keep the candle in place. Candlesticks are sometimes called "candleholders".
Before the proliferation of electricity, candles wer ...
s with a numerous prickets that eventually became a trademark of the Latgalian ceramics. His works were exhibited in
Soviet Union
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
and abroad, in
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
,
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
and other countries. Other Latgalian ceramicists, such as
Polikarps Čerņavskis
Polikarps Čerņavskis (8 May 1923 – 25 January 1997) was a Latgale, Latgalian Ceramic art, ceramicist. In 1996, he was awarded with the Order of the Three Stars.Antons Ušpelis cited Vilcāns as their influencer and teacher.
He was one of two Latgalian ceramicists, alongside his cousin
Andrejs Paulāns
Andrejs Paulāns-Kraskevičs ( Latgalian: Andrivs Povulāns-Kraskevičs, 30 November 1896 – 29 November 1973) was a Latvian and Latgalian ceramicist. He is regarded as one of the greatest Latgalian ceramicists. In 1937, Paulāns was awarded ...
who were awarded with a Gold Medal at the 1937 Paris Exhibition. In 1958, Vilcāns was recognized as the People's Artist of the
Latvian SSR
The Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (Also known as the Latvian SSR, or Latvia) was a Republics of the Soviet Union, constituent republic of the Soviet Union from 1940 to 1941, and then from 1944 until 1990.
The Soviet occupation of the Bal ...
.
Vilcāns died on 8 May 1969. He is buried in the Antonišķi cemetery.
Latvian SSR
The Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (Also known as the Latvian SSR, or Latvia) was a Republics of the Soviet Union, constituent republic of the Soviet Union from 1940 to 1941, and then from 1944 until 1990.
The Soviet occupation of the Bal ...