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Showcase 20

Two worlds

In this showcase, small-swords, weapons associated with court dress, are a link between European and Polish luxury weapons in the Saxon period. They make up the first part of the display case, the second part of which contrasts with the armament of Polish “pancerny”, i.e. light cavarly units. Small-swords remind us that in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Western European weapons were used as well as Oriental ones, represented by karabela sabre and a helmet with a turban. The turban is another indication of the influence of the Battle of Vienna on European culture, where Janissary troops, among others, wore Turkish costumes. The portrait of the light cavalryman in the showcase is one of three portraits in the room showing Polish and foreign contingents artefacts and their costumes. The colours are important here: the crimson and navy blue introduced by Michal Kazimierz Radziwił, already familiar to us from the tapestry, became the national colours of the Polish uniform for centuries to come.

1. Court small-sword

1. Court small-sword

Europe (Germany ?), 18th c.

Iron, gold, brass, copper, forging, gilding, casting, chiselling

2. Small-sword

2. Small-sword

France, 1660-1680

Iron, openwork, chiselling, forging

Gift of Adam Łobaczewski, 1920

3. Small-sword

3. Small-sword

Europe, first half of the 18th c.

Iron, wood, copper, forging, cast, chiselling, engraving, punching

Gift of Erazm Barącz, 1922

4. Small-sword

4. Small-sword

Europe, between 1770-1780

Iron, copper, brass, silver, forging, cast, silvering, punching

5. Court small-sword

5. Court small-sword

France (?), 1790-1810

Iron, steel, wood, shagreen, forging, etching, faceting, engraving, gilding

From the former armoury of Piotr Moszyński in Krakow

6. Small-sword

6. Small-sword

Saxony, ca. 1730-1750

Iron, copper, silver, brass, silvering, forging, openwork, engraving, punching, etching

Gift of Janina Kornecka, 1939. From the collection of Zygmunt Ignacy Kowalski (1847-1918)

7. Court small-sword

7. Court small-sword

Saxony, 1740-1750

Iron, bronze, gold, silver, forging, enamel, gilding, silvering, etching

From the former armoury of Piotr Moszyński in Krakow

8. Small-sword

8. Small-sword

France, 18th c.

iron, bronze, gold, forging, gilding, etching

9. Court small-sword

9. Court small-sword

Italy, 18th c.

Iron, agate, copper, forging, inlay, grinding, polishing

Transferred from the Adrian Baraniecki Technical and Industrial Museum in Krakow. Gift of Potocki family

10. Marcin Remela, Portrait of Józef Głębocki (1757-1764), captain of the armoured cavalry

10. Marcin Remela, Portrait of Józef Głębocki (1757-1764), captain of the armoured cavalry

Poland, 1757-1764

Linen, oil paint

Property of Art Museum in Łódź

11. Turban scale-helmet

11. Turban scale-helmet

Poland, ca. 1750

Velvet, iron, brass, leather, forging, cutting, engraving, sewing

From the former armoury of Piotr Moszyński in Krakow

12. Buzdygan-mace

12. Buzdygan-mace

Hungary or Poland (?), 18th c.

Cast bronze, copper, wood, iron

From the former armoury of Piotr Moszyński in Krakow

13. Hussar armour breastplate

13. Hussar armour breastplate

Poland, 18th c.

Iron, brass, forging, repoussé, punching, cutting, punching

Gift of Stanisław Ursyn Rusiecki, 1938

14. Cover for cartridge-pouch

14. Cover for cartridge-pouch

Poland, first half of the 18th c.

Copper, gold, gilding, enamel, appliqué, engraving

From the collection of Emeryk Hutten-Czapski, gift of the family, 1903

15. Karabela sabre with sheath

15. Karabela sabre with sheath

Poland, ca. 1740

Iron, gold, brass, horn, enamel, niello, gilding

Gift of Erazm Barącz, 1921