Baroque votive plaque depicting a nobleman, repoussé silver, Poland, 17th–18th century.
Belt link, gilded silver, Poland, 17th century
A gilded silver belt element in the form of a rectangular segment with open sides, creating an opening that allows a leather strap to pass through.
At the bottom there is a loop designed for hanging a decorative element. Links of this type likely formed a sequence of repeating belt segments; loops may have been present only on some of them and served to suspend decorative additions, such as small chains.
The decorative side is divided by a vertical double rib into two symmetrical fields. In each of them, three stylized flowers are arranged symmetrically. The background between them is concave, with a fine, granular texture, probably achieved by punching. The whole is surrounded by a narrow, smooth border.
Chapel with Our Lady of Czestochowa and Eagle, Poland, 19th century.
A unique, 19th century chapel (pendant medal) of large format, depicting the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa with the infant Jesus. The front is decorated with an engraved representation of the icon with hand-polychrome faces, robes and halos. In the rim is a Latin inscription: "TERRIBILIS UT CASTRORUM ACIES ORDINATA" a quote from the Song of Songs, read as a symbol of Mary's strength as protector and queen.
On the back there is a classical eagle with a crown, coat of arms and outspread wings, typical of the iconography of the Kingdom of Poland, and a ribbon with an inscription: "REGINA POLONIAE - MISERERE MEI" (Queen of Poland - have mercy on me).The chapel is made of uniform silver-plated sheet metal (brass or alpaca), with a hanging handle. A product with a strong symbolic charge, popular especially during the periods of partitions and national pilgrimages to Jasna Gora.
Charles Julius Minter (1812 – 1892), Casket with lid in the form of a tombstone of King Stefan Batory, tin
Tin casket, so called "serviette", in the form of a tomb of King Stefan Batory. The body with convex sides, decorated with imitation fittings, supported on lion's feet. The lid depicts a model of the bas-relief from the tomb of Stefan Batory, located in St. Mary's Chapel in Wawel Castle. The king is shown in a semi-recumbent position with a scepter and apple, clad in armor and coronation cloak.
Casket designed by Wojciech Święcki and Kazimierz Stronczyński, made around 1857 in the Warsaw factory of artistic castings of Karol Minter.
Coin Necklace, Silver, Rock Crystal, Bronze, Poland, 17th Century
A necklace crafted from faceted beads of cut rock crystal, varying in size and clarity, and Russian silver kopecks. These are small coins known as 'teardrops' or 'wire coins' due to their distinctive shape. Some coins were left flat, with specially made perforations allowing them to be strung onto a cord.
The central accent of the composition is an ancient, three-edged Scythian bronze arrowhead, dated to approximately the 7th–6th century BC. In the 17th century, it was set in silver and fitted with a loop for suspension. Its presence indicates that certain finds were perceived as extraordinary objects endowed with special significance, regardless of any lack of knowledge about their origin and function. Undoubtedly, the creator of the necklace had no knowledge of ancient Scythians or their weaponry.
An immense rarity on the collector's market! A great treat for enthusiasts of the culture and traditions of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth!
Cup, silver, Poland (?), 17th-18th century
A cup made of forged silver, likely intended for drinking vodka or other spirits. The vessel has a squat form. The bowl with a semicircular bottom has straight walls, slightly flared upward. The rim is straight, slightly tilted outward and clearly separated from the wall section by a row of concave dots. The bowl has a five-part form – both the rim edge and the walls are divided into five convex segments, separated by vertical fluting. The vessel is set on a low, conical foot and fitted with a flat, S-curved handle. The surface of the bowl is decorated with engraved floral motifs and rocaille ornament.
Similar cups are characteristic of 18th-century Russian silverwork. As a rule, however, they are hallmarked. Our specimen bears no marks, although it undoubtedly came from a fine silversmith's workshop. It is possible that the cup described was made in the 17th century and not in Muscovy at all, but in the east of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This would explain the absence of hallmarks, which is quite normal for Polish silver from that period. At the same time, it should be remembered that the origin of the popular Russian cups is unknown.
Nuremberg basin (Beckenschlägerschüssel) with memento mori decoration, brass, Germany (Nuremberg), 15th-16th century
Round basin, deep; the surface of the mirror slightly convex, passing with an oblique fold into the side wall; in the center of the mirror a repoussed, stylized human skull above crossed tibias, all around a bordure of fleur-de-lis punched with punctures; a narrow, slightly oblique collar with the same ornament at the edge. Edge curled outward, probably reinforced with wire. In places, especially in the recesses, visible remnants of a coating of white metal - most likely tin.
Stepping lion, gilt silver, Western Europe, 17th-18th century.
Small, realistically reproduced figurine of a lion with clear detail of the mouth and mane, made of silver, partly fire-gilded. Set on a slightly curved, florist-decorated pedestal. Visible traces of handwork - chiseling and engraving. Probably a fragment of a larger object - a reliquary, ceremonial casket or processional gate.
Table spoon, silver, Wrocław, early 18th century
Silver tablespoon with a richly decorated flat handle, ending with a characteristic profiled button in the Baroque style. On the top side, finely engraved floral ornaments - typical of Central European Baroque. On the underside of the scoop part, two punches: the city mark of Wroclaw (St. John's head in a circle) and the probationer's mark (the letter "H" in a heart). A proboscis in the place of joining the handle with the scoop - an element typical of Lower Silesian workshops of the period.