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Showcase 12

Augustus sabres

The showcase introduces us to the period of the reign of the Wettins, Saxon electors in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1697-1763). Weapons and banner from the period are displayed, as well as the symbolism of edged weapons in the form of royal coats of arms and monograms. There is a broken sabre head at the front – could this be a trace of the custom of breaking the blade as a sign of mourning after the death of an important personage?

1. Broken sabre with an inscription reffering to Augustus II

1. Broken sabre with an inscription reffering to Augustus II

Poland, 1733 (?)

Iron, gold, forging, inlay

Gift of Aleksy Grobicki, 1903

2. Pallasch with royal monogram ‘AR’

2. Pallasch with royal monogram ‘AR’

Poland, ca. 1700-1760 (blade) and 1770-1790 (hilt)

Iron, leather, wood, forging, etching, engraving, punching, cutting

Gift of prof. Adam Łobaczewski, 1920

3. Pallasch with royal monogram ‘AR’

3. Pallasch with royal monogram ‘AR’

Poland, 18th c.

Iron, wood, leather, forging, etching

Deposit of the Academy of Learning, 1897

4. Officer’s sword decorated with Polish-Saxon coat of arms

4. Officer’s sword decorated with Polish-Saxon coat of arms

Saxony (?), first half of the 18th c.

Iron, gold, brass, leather, gilding, forging, punching, etching

Gift of Janina Kornecka, 1947. From the collection of Zygmunt Ignacy Kowalski (1847-1918)

5. Officer’s pallasch oficerski decorated with Polish-Saxon coat of arms

5. Officer’s pallasch oficerski decorated with Polish-Saxon coat of arms

Saxony (?), ca. 1716

Iron, gold, bronze, leather, etching, chiselling, gilding, casting, cutting

Deposit of the Academy of Learning, 1896

6. Officer’s sword decorated with Polish-Saxon coat of arms

6. Officer’s sword decorated with Polish-Saxon coat of arms

Saxony (?), first half of the 18th c.

Iron, silver, gold, brass, gilding, forging, etching, openwork, punching, chiselling, casting

From the former deposit of prof. Fryderyk Zoll, 1903

7. National cavalry sabre with royal monogram ‘AR’

7. National cavalry sabre with royal monogram ‘AR’

Poland, first half of the 18th c. (blade) and second half of the 18th c. (fittings)

Iron, leather, wood, forging, etching

8. National cavalry sabre with inscriptions referring to the battles of Byczyna (1588) and Vienna (1683)

8. National cavalry sabre with inscriptions referring to the battles of Byczyna (1588) and Vienna (1683)

Poland, second half of the 18th c.

Iron, leather, wood, forging, engraving

9. Banner of the national contingent

9. Banner of the national contingent

Poland, first half of the 18th c.

Silk, oil paint, appliqué, painting