POLISH TEXTILE ART
PRESS RELEASE
In the long history of Polish decorative arts, weaving has always held a significant place. Textiles served a variety of purposes and were integral to many key moments of life. Essential for every social class, they adorned all kinds of interior spaces.
Old inventories of castles, palaces, churches, and monasteries frequently list numerous textiles, often outnumbering paintings in these collections. This fact alone highlights the Polish people’s appreciation for textiles and indicates that they resonated with their sense of beauty. Textiles were proudly displayed, and Poland imported them from leading centers in both the East and the West. The preserved portion of King Sigismund Augustus’ rich collection of Flemish tapestries, which includes 355 pieces from the 16th century, serves as the best testament to the refined taste of Polish patrons.
Written sources also reveal local production of embroidery, textiles, and carpets. Unfortunately, few of these items have survived over time. Various factors have contributed to the scarcity of preserved textiles: natural wear and tear, destruction and plundering due to wars, and ecclesiastical regulations that mandated the disposal of objects no longer in use for worship. However, it can be said that certain categories of objects demonstrate the continuity of tradition from the 18th century onward.
The 18th century was a golden age for textile arts in Poland. Tapestries were commissioned by royalty and the nobility, while monasteries produced exquisite embroidery. Additionally, carpet workshops were active throughout the country. Among the most typical products of local weavers were the shawls worn with the robes of the Polish gentry. These patterned shawls, often made from silk and adorned with gold and silver threads, were widely used during the 18th century. Although they were closely associated with Eastern garments, they became a distinctive part of Polish cultural attire during the country’s period of Oriental influence. Despite their foreign origins, these shawls developed unique forms characteristic of local art. Polish textile craftsmanship successfully created these forms, merging Western and Eastern influences. Due to their artistic quality, Polish shawls are regarded among the finest antique items in the world. They are a source of pride for many museum collections both domestically and abroad.
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