These pieces are on consignment at our boutique. From 2 separate estates, all likely originated in Poland. The cup, vase, and candlestick are both painted and decorated with pyrography (the design burnt into the wood with heated metal tools), a craft associated with the city of Krakow.
“Czym chata bogata tym rada” translates to “You’re welcome to everything this home offers”. This hand-carved and stained plaque pictures a Goral (highlander) couple outside their home, she wearing a linen kerchief, he in the traditional brimmed wool hat sporting a feather. Both the flared-out roof and its steep peak with sunburst design are typical of old homes in the High Tatra mountains. Culturally distinct from the majority Polish population, the Goral people are also admired for their courage and during WWII were fierce fighters against the Nazi invasion.
Prior to WWII, Poland also had a Jewish population of over 3 million, but most were killed during the occupation, so the design on this small plate may or may not represent a Star of David. This next plate is decorated with stylized bell shapes representing tulips, a popular folk motif. The bright outlines are made from inlaid brass wire and a pyrography tool patterned with a narrow, tight ‘squiggle’ was used to fill in the dark background areas.
This last remarkable plaque combines all of the above techniques and brings our story of Polish resistance to America. Around its rim it reads “2313 North Sprizingfield Chicago Illinois 60641” – an address that is today an old apartment building but earlier may have served as the meeting place for immigrant Polish veterans of WWII. Below the emblem at its center it reads “Polska Dywizuh Pancerna Oddziat Chicago” – Poland Division Armored Detachment, Chicago”.
Poland is a majority Catholic country, so on the left is the Virgin Mary with Jesus. On the right is the Polish coat of arms, the White Eagle. Center is the emblem of the Armored Division itself, which adopted the striking helmet and wings of the Polish hussars, an elite cavalry that served from 1503 to 1776. These mounted soldiers actually charged into battle wearing ‘wings’ made of eagle feathers fixed to their armor to intimidate the enemy. Avenging angels on horseback fighting with lances, long swords, sabers, pistols, carbines, maces, hatchets, war hammers, and horseman’s picks, it is easy to understand why Polish WWII tank crews chose to channel them.
The Polish 1st Armoured Division was not formed in Poland nor did it fight there; it was mustered in Scotland from Polish men who had escaped as Poland was taken by the Germans. 18,000 Polish soldiers who wanted to keep fighting the Nazis were given British uniforms, British tanks and British training, but their commander was General Stanislaw Maczek, Poland’s best mechanized commander, and he brought many of his officers with him. The Division first defended the British coast, then fought in the Battles of Normandy, Chambois, and Falaise in France, then moved on to the campaign in Northern Europe where they fought as a part of the First Canadian Army. In 1945 they rolled into Germany to capture the Kriegsmarine Naval Base, which they occupied through Germany’s surrender and until 1947. Tragically, when the Division disbanded most tired survivors could not return to Poland – it had been annexed by the Soviet Union and did not become an autonomous democracy again until 1990. And so they emigrated here to America as refugees, and to Chicago specifically, which today has the largest population of Polish Americans, and the largest population of Poles outside Poland. Walcz dalej!
Tuesday Treasures was started by our staff member, Jeanne Lusignan. Each week she will be featuring items that have been found at our estate sales. If you would like to submit a treasure for Jeanne to feature in a future installment of “Tuesday’s Treasures”, please follow the button below and send us an email! Please attach a few photos of your treasure in a beautiful setting as well as any details you have about your item such as manufacturer, use, age, region of origin. If you don’t know about the piece, that’s okay! We still might be able to research it for you! Don’t forget to tell us what makes this item such a treasure to you!