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Did you know that The story of the stove from Myślenice The stove in the “Greek House” in Myślenice comes from the manor in nearby Krzyszkowice, which, from 1926, belonged to Count Konstanty Romer. After his death in 1942, Krzyszkowice was inherited by his daughter Teresa, and she owned it until 1945. |
Did you know that The story of the wardrobe in the past The first wardrobes that served as furniture items for storing clothes appeared in the Middle Ages and were found mainly in church sacristies. |
Did you know that The fox terrier Nipper is still alive Museum exhibitions and depots are not only treasuries of works of art but also places where objects, whose usefulness has recently come to an end, are given a second chance to live. Thanks to a museum, we can learn about the function and history of such objects — from the moment of their creation, through the period of their heyday, until the end of their useful lives. But is it really necessary to restore objects to life and does some part of them endure? History suggests: “non omnis moriar” [I shall not wholly die]. |
 Orava shirt — “kabotka” The Orava shirt was tailored from light blue fabric. It narrows at the waist and is slightly widened at the bottom. The sleeve is raised high, narrowed from the elbow down with three pleated sections. Black ribbon applications are sewn into the edges at the front. The whole shirt is trimmed with a wide belt of black karakul sheep pelts. The back is fitted to the back line, slightly flared at the bottom. |
Did you know that Multifunctional pitchfork and a non-obvious usage of a polypore A pitchfork, one of the basic tools used by peasants at work, for centuries was also used as a means of defence — it was used for fighting in the absence of regular weapons. Peasants, drafted into the army since the Middle Ages, had to procure their weapons themselves. Having no armour or... |
Did you know that About the ways of storing tobacco in Podhale Highlanders kept tobacco (habryka) in leather pouches, the so-called miechóry, which were made of cat skin, sheepskin or rabbit skin. They also kept tobacco in pouches made from specially prepared pigs’ bladders, the so-called maharzyny, which were tied up with a leather strap. The tobacco stored in them did not lose its natural moisture and did not get mouldy. |
Did you know that ”Show trials” “Show trials” were political processes used in totalitarian states, aimed at discrediting the opposition by conducting a public trial based on trumped-up charges. They were also meant to intimidate society. During the pre-trial investigation, the defendants... |
Did you know that Textile Decoration of Interiors. Groups of Small Tapestries from the Collection of Sigismund Augustus and Their Function Decorative textiles, such as tapestries, constituted a decoration for chambers of the Royal Residence, adding splendour and a stately nature thereto. All tapestries commissioned by King Sigismund Augustus, from large-format to quite small ones, had specific functions in the residence interiors, aside from their artistic value.
Forms and sizes of certain categories of textiles were adjusted directly to the place of their destination; therefore, they were closely related to architecture. These groups include small tapestries complementing the decor of the castle interiors, namely over-window, under-window, over-door and upholstery tapestries. |
Did you know that Guilds The main aim of the existence of guilds was to ensure that the associated craftsmen would have exclusive rights to practice their craft in town (craftsmen who did not belong to guilds were called botchers). But the role of guilds was not limited to administrative functions... |
Did you know that How to tie a wedding scarf? Subtle knots exposing the beautiful embroidered starched material... Thanks to this the scarf becomes a real decoration for the head... However, would everyone be able to tie such a scarf nowadays? The thing that was very easy for our great-grandmothers could be very problematic these days... |
Did you know that Guild chests Guild chests were particularly valuable — they were also called counters or mothers and were treated with high respect.
Particularly celebrated was the moment of raising the cover and opening the chest, which was always accompanied by an atmosphere of concentration and solemnity. Administrative and legal activities... |
Did you know that Coffee made from acorns Coffee is not always a beverage prepared from cocoa beans. Cereal grains (chicory) and even less obvious ingredients like acorns are also used to make coffee. In Obyczaje w Polsce od Średniowiecza do czasów współczesnych, Lidia Korczak writes about coffee prepared from broad beans, wheat or roasted peas... |
Did you know that Coffee with almond milk In Poland, in the 19th century, the habit of drinking coffee with almond milk was adopted. The very thought of coffee served in this way stimulates the imagination (taste, smell). Although nowadays hardly anyone prepares coffee in this way... |
Did you know that From the night chair to the outhouse The night chair in the 18th century was the privilege of rulers and noble men from wealthy families. It was advertised as “an armchair for going outside in a room”.
The first bathrooms inside houses appeared very late. Even in the 1960s, public baths were commonly used by both tourists and the locals. |
Did you know that 16th-century reception of the tapestry “Paradise Bliss” In the panegyric of Stanisław Orzechowski (Panagyricus nuptiarum Sigismundi Augusti Poloniae Regis), describing events of the wedding ceremony of Sigismund Augustus and Catherine of Austria, an ekphrasis was preserved which illustrates the tapestries of biblical themes, including Paradise Bliss from the series The History of the First Parents. This text is valuable inasmuch as it includes the first information that ever appeared on the tapestries, helpful in dating the commissioned series. It is also, or perhaps above all, a record of impressions and reactions of the contemporary audience, constituting in some way a commentary of their worldview. |
Did you know that Boy about Wyspiański’s furniture Recognising Wyspiański’s genius, Boy-Żeleński joked that if he were asked to design a locomotive, as a complete artist, he would have scrupulously brought the completed design on the next day. It is no wonder then that furniture became one of the fields of his activity. |
Did you know that Walery Rzewuski’s atelier — photo laboratories in the 2nd half of the 19th century Walery Rzewuski’s atelier was one of the most famous photo laboratories in the 2nd half of the 19th century in Kraków. The atelier was fully equipped and the owner’s fame, resulting in financial success, allowed him to build a house which was a part of a photographic entourage, and which was arranged with great care. The residence with a garden at Kolejowa Street in Kraków (today’s Westerplatte Street) was designed according to the latest architectural trends. |
Did you know that “Putnia” sellers that carried only a few commodities The inscription under the photograph: Ludwik Langiewicz – a padlock seller from nearby Sukiennice [Cloth Hall], photo from 1932.
Peddling was a typical type of trade in Świątniki. Padlocks were most often sold by a producer of padlocks or by “the one who did not want to work“. The name putniorze [putnia sellers] in a local dialect derives... |
 Knee-boot jack The knee-boot jack was donated by Mr Piwowarczyk of Dębowa in 1982. The base has a grooved fragment for a heel, used to put a foot with a boot on it. It is also equipped with a horseshoe-shaped protection that supports the boot and facilitates its taking off. |
 Karol Wojtyła’s letter on filter paper Karol Wojtyła wrote in his autobiographical sketches:
“The war was an obstacle to completing my studies [Polish Philology at the Jagiellonian University] and the living conditions during the occupation forced me to work as a manual worker at the Solvay Company in Borek Fałęcki, near Kraków, between 1940 and 1944. |
