“Apostle” spoon with St. Simon, silver, England, 18th century.
Spoon, so called "apostolic" with a handle topped with a full-figured figure of St. Simon Zelota holding a saw, which is his attribute. The head of the saint topped with a circular shield with a representation of a bird (probably a dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit). Item of liturgical or collectible nature.
“Apostle” spoon with St. Thomas, silver, England, 18th century.
Afrika Korps tropical helmet, cork and canvas, Germany (North Africa), 1941
A tropical cork helmet (Tropenhelm) used by soldiers of the German Afrika Korps (Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK) during the North African campaign of 1941-1943. Made of lightweight, hardened cork covered with beige canvas. On the sides are metal insignia: on one side a tricolor national shield (black-white-red), on the other a Wehrmacht eagle holding a swastika. The inside of the helmet is lined with red lining, with a preserved leather potnik and a fragment of the chin strap. The potnik bears the manufacturer's stamp HR41 (Heinrich Radecke, Hamburg, 1941).
All in very good state of preservation, with natural wear to the fabric at the edges of the brim and minor rubbing. Despite the broken chin strap, the structure remains fully stable. The helmet is preserved in its original condition, without conservation interference.
Alexander Sochaczewski (1843-1923), Portrait of an elderly woman, oil on canvas, Munich, 1884-1897
The painting depicts an elderly woman, shown in a bust view, against a dark, neutral background. The figure is wearing a magnificent headdress - a large decorative cap with lace and a wide satin bow, from under which dark curls protrude. The woman's face has been portrayed in a realistic manner, with attention paid to fine details such as delicate wrinkles, subtle shadows around the eyes and soft chiaroscuro transitions on the skin. A large, softly placed shawl is visible under the neck, completing the elegant character of the portrait. The painting is signed on the back and framed in a Biedermeier style frame.
Baroque votive plaque depicting a nobleman, repoussé silver, Poland, 17th–18th century.
Battle of Mochacz, oil on canvas, Krakow, 1886
The painting depicts the scene of the 1526 Battle of Mohacz, showing the moment of the violent clash between the Christian army and the Ottoman army. The composition has the character of a multi-figural battle scene, focused on the dynamic battle between cavalry and infantry, with a clear emphasis placed on the chaos and drama of the battlefield. The artist operates a compact, densely populated composition, in which the silhouettes of the fighting men and horses fill almost the entire surface of the canvas. The work was executed in oil on canvas and is signed in the lower left corner: "Krakow 1886".
Capital with Figural Decoration, Sandstone, France, 12th-14th Century
Cylindrical stone capitol, decorated with carved representations of male faces with mustaches and nude female figures. The top edge decorated with a band of ornaments. The interior is deeply grooved. The surface of the object bears clear traces of use - deposits and wax residues are visible. The style of the sculpture refers to Romanesque or early Gothic architecture.
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.