Department V - Militaria
Department V - Militaria
Founded on the basis of the first donations at the end of the 19th century and run by experts such as Prof. Zbigniew Bocheński, Dr. Stanisław Kobielski and Dr. Irena Grabowska, the Militaria Department eventually grew to a total of around 11,000 items including various types of weaponry and other military artefacts. It now contains many valuable national and international military exhibits, including relics of famous battles in which Poland participated and memorabilia of famous leaders such as Stanisław Jabłonowski, Stefan Czarniecki, Józef Piłsudski and many others. Supplemented by donations from well-known collectors and numerous private individuals, occasional deposits from institutions (e.g. Jagiellonian University and the Sikorski Institute in London), and on-going purchases, the collection now possesses many valuable exhibits of global significance.
The most beautiful group of artefacts are the weapons used from the mid-16th century to the end of the 19th century. These include both ordinary utility weapons, weapons which constitute true works of art with elaborate encrusting, gilding, or etching, various kinds of armour, melée weapons, and firearms. A valuable part of the collection is the hussar armour from the second half of the 17th century, which still attracts great interest all over the world. Also noteworthy is the Museum's large collection of Polish sabres which range from the oldest Hungarian-Polish sabres, which were widely used in Poland during the reign of Stefan Batory, to typically Polish sabres which evolved over two centuries and had a significant influence on the development of European sabres. Among these are beautifully-decorated pieces made by highly-skilled Armenian craftsmen and commemorative or devotional examples with inscribed blades. The weapons collection also boasts historical symbols of military power, for example gilded buzdygan maces inlaid with precious stones and a hetman's ensign mounted on a five-metre long flagstaff once belonging to the Lubomirski dynasty from Wiśnicz, a globally unique exhibit.
Particularly noteworthy is the karacena armour of Great Crown Hetman Stanisław Jabłonowski, who took part in the battles of Chocim and Vienna. There are also numerous examples of melée arms in the form of swords from Italy, Germany and France which were popularised in Poland in the court of August II and III, the Electors of Saxony.
The firearms in the collection range from the oldest examples from the 16th century to rare and valuable German, French and Polish pieces made by gunsmiths in subsequent centuries. There are also numerous signed objects bearing the names of master craftsmen such as Andrzej Kownacki, Eligiusz Colette, Szomański of Tulczyn, and Ignacy Höfelmajer. Many artefacts are surprising in their assembly and construction, some are even rather comical, for example battleaxes and maces combined with firearms, shooting canes or huge multi-barrel muskets. The hunting weapons beloved of our ancestors are represented by interesting examples of falchions, cutlasses, heraldic bandoliers, ammunition pouches, and above all the cieszynki rifles whose beautiful embellishments and interesting construction set them apart from the other firearms in the collection.
Another important element of the collection are the uniforms. These include examples from the period of dramatic struggle for Poland's independence – from the Kościuszko insurrection and the November and January uprisings to the events of 1918 – and uniforms of famous leaders such as Benedykt Kołyszko, Franciszek Paszkowski, Henryk Dembiński, and of course Józef Piłsudski.
The Department's collections also feature civil service uniforms as well as uniforms and uniform elements used in other European countries. Particularly noteworthy is the phaleristic display including the most important Polish medals: the Order of the White Eagle, the Order of St. Stanislaus, and Virtuti Militari, as well as an extensive collection of twentieth century military, civilian, and commemorative medals.
Also interesting is the collection of Turkish and Persian weaponry (the most valuable in Poland and one of the best in the world), which includes various kinds of polished armour, chainmail, horned basinets, sabres with Damascus steel blades, knives and shields. Parts of this collection are presented in exhibitions in Poland and abroad.
There are also interesting examples of African weapons.
Many of the items belonging to the collections of the Militaria Department can be viewed in the permanent gallery Arms and Colours in Poland in the Main Building of the Museum.
Michał Dziewulski
The most beautiful group of artefacts are the weapons used from the mid-16th century to the end of the 19th century. These include both ordinary utility weapons, weapons which constitute true works of art with elaborate encrusting, gilding, or etching, various kinds of armour, melée weapons, and firearms. A valuable part of the collection is the hussar armour from the second half of the 17th century, which still attracts great interest all over the world. Also noteworthy is the Museum's large collection of Polish sabres which range from the oldest Hungarian-Polish sabres, which were widely used in Poland during the reign of Stefan Batory, to typically Polish sabres which evolved over two centuries and had a significant influence on the development of European sabres. Among these are beautifully-decorated pieces made by highly-skilled Armenian craftsmen and commemorative or devotional examples with inscribed blades. The weapons collection also boasts historical symbols of military power, for example gilded buzdygan maces inlaid with precious stones and a hetman's ensign mounted on a five-metre long flagstaff once belonging to the Lubomirski dynasty from Wiśnicz, a globally unique exhibit.
Particularly noteworthy is the karacena armour of Great Crown Hetman Stanisław Jabłonowski, who took part in the battles of Chocim and Vienna. There are also numerous examples of melée arms in the form of swords from Italy, Germany and France which were popularised in Poland in the court of August II and III, the Electors of Saxony.
The firearms in the collection range from the oldest examples from the 16th century to rare and valuable German, French and Polish pieces made by gunsmiths in subsequent centuries. There are also numerous signed objects bearing the names of master craftsmen such as Andrzej Kownacki, Eligiusz Colette, Szomański of Tulczyn, and Ignacy Höfelmajer. Many artefacts are surprising in their assembly and construction, some are even rather comical, for example battleaxes and maces combined with firearms, shooting canes or huge multi-barrel muskets. The hunting weapons beloved of our ancestors are represented by interesting examples of falchions, cutlasses, heraldic bandoliers, ammunition pouches, and above all the cieszynki rifles whose beautiful embellishments and interesting construction set them apart from the other firearms in the collection.
Another important element of the collection are the uniforms. These include examples from the period of dramatic struggle for Poland's independence – from the Kościuszko insurrection and the November and January uprisings to the events of 1918 – and uniforms of famous leaders such as Benedykt Kołyszko, Franciszek Paszkowski, Henryk Dembiński, and of course Józef Piłsudski.
The Department's collections also feature civil service uniforms as well as uniforms and uniform elements used in other European countries. Particularly noteworthy is the phaleristic display including the most important Polish medals: the Order of the White Eagle, the Order of St. Stanislaus, and Virtuti Militari, as well as an extensive collection of twentieth century military, civilian, and commemorative medals.
Also interesting is the collection of Turkish and Persian weaponry (the most valuable in Poland and one of the best in the world), which includes various kinds of polished armour, chainmail, horned basinets, sabres with Damascus steel blades, knives and shields. Parts of this collection are presented in exhibitions in Poland and abroad.
There are also interesting examples of African weapons.
Many of the items belonging to the collections of the Militaria Department can be viewed in the permanent gallery Arms and Colours in Poland in the Main Building of the Museum.
Michał Dziewulski