Arms and Colour

Where can you find the largest collection of historical arms and armour in Krakow? The answer is the National Museum in Krakow. It is also one of the most important collections of its kind in Poland. But does weaponry, which is primarily associated with war, belong in an art museum?

This exhibition addresses this question and seeks to provide an answer. It presents historical arms and armour in a broader context, considering them not only as part of military history, but also as elements of culture and art.

The objects on display have practical and symbolic significance. They formed part of social and religious life and were connected with various rituals and traditions. In this way, they contributed to the shaping of historical and cultural identity.

The historical weapons on display are also testaments to the past. These objects are linked to both individual lives and collective experience, carrying a strong emotional charge.

Displaying the collection in the former Kraków arsenal restores the memory of the site’s original function and its importance in defending the city. The proximity of the Czartoryski collection further highlights the shared concept of both collections: documenting the past through a wide range of historical artefacts.

The exhibition encourages visitors to reconsider their perception of arms and armour at the National Museum in Krakow. It presents them as carriers of important national and universal values.

The “Arms and Uniforms” exhibition at the Arsenal was recognized in the most important museum competition, Sybilla 2023, in the category “New or modernized permanent exhibitions.”

Curator: Michał Dziewulski

Arrangement: Anna Wisz

Coordination: Katarzyna Migacz

Co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage

Project title: Arms and Colour – a new display of the permanent exhibition.