[1] Polikarps Vilcāns was born at Dūbes village in Silajāņi Parish, Russian Empire in 1894.

He learned the craft of ceramicist from his father Joahims and successfully fired his first kiln at the age of 16.

[2] After the 1917 October Revolution, Vilcāns fought against the Kolchak's army in the Eastern Front.

Other Latgalian ceramicists, such as Polikarps Čerņavskis and Antons Ušpelis cited Vilcāns as their influencer and teacher.

[4] He was one of two Latgalian ceramicists, alongside his cousin Andrejs Paulāns who were awarded with a Gold Medal at the 1937 Paris Exhibition.