DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.23631#0071
Dusiatski, the property of the Czartoryski Library in Cracow, was bound in vermilion coloured parchment
probably by Vilna bookbinders in a style recalling books in Sigismund Augustus' collection. Important
documents were also beautifully bound in red leather, with gilded armorial bearings and ornaments. For
example, the certificate of knighthood issued in Warsaw to Hieronim Pinocci in T662, features the Great
Seal of State. In the 17th century, Polish bookbinding came under the influence of western styles, such
as a la fanfare in which the whole surface was covered in ornaments, or fan-shaped and lace motifs,
oriental themes (Persian-Turkish) with an oval-shaped medallion , in the centre and quarter-ovals at the
corners. Armorial bearings appeared on bindings of books owned by the clergy, university professors,
the gentry and the burghers. Law-court records and municipal documents were customarily bound in
fine high-quality bindings. In connection with the spreading cult of Our Lady, in the late 17th century
Marian emblems appeared on books bound in Vilna, while Saxon bindings featured fun-shaped designs
and French rococo motifs. During the reign of Stanislaus Augustus the rococo style was gradually superseded
by the French classicism of Louis XVI. At the same time a 'historical' style first appeared in attempts
to imitate bookbindings from the period of Sigismund Augustus. Simple bindings ol morocco leather
had the royal coat-of-arms on the front cover, and the inscription 'Stanislaus Augustus Rex Poloniae
Saeculorum Posteritati Vindicit' on the back. Bindings of manuscripts in the famous Zaluski Library,
which were endowed by Stanislaus Augustus, carried the royal armorial devices and the inscription
'Patriae Patris Stanislai Augusti Cura et Liberalitate Regia', and the year of binding. Gradually Warsaw
took precedence over the traditional centres of bookbinding, Cracow, Vilna, Lvov and Poznan.
Chess, draughts and trick-track boards, dice and cards, as a rule artistically fashioned, were also produced
by the artistic crafts. Towards the end of the 18th century, card games became the height of fashion in
court and aristocratic circles. Home-made cards and gaming tables followed strictly western models.
At the same time social games of eastern origin, chess for example, had a long tradition in Poland. The
Czartoryski Collection in Cracow has among its exhibits a beautiful chessbox inlaid with yellow and green
ornaments, which is linked with King Stephen Bathory and Hetman Jan Zamoyski. It has a trick-track
(a variety of backgammon) board inside and a chequers and chess board outside. The box contains only
draughtsmen and trick-track pieces of stamped wood; .the white pieces bear the likeness and-coat-of-arms
of Stephen Bathory, while the black pieces feature the likeness and coat-of-arms of Jan Zamoyski, and
the date 1584. The board resembles in style South German furniture from the latter half of the 16th
century, though it could have been made in Poland. On the other hand the chessboard of Sigismund HI,
preserved in the State Art Collections of Wawel Castle, was probably made in Gdansk in 1608. It
is 3 o by 30 centimetres only, of ebony, ivory, amber and meershaum. The armorial bearings and inscriptions
featuring on it indicate that it was a gift from Hieronim Wollowicz, Lord Treasurer of Lithuania. Next
to the dedication 'Otii Causa Domino Suo Servus Dedicat' (for pastime the Lord is given this by his
servant), the board is adorned with quotations from Ovid's Ars Amatoria and representations of nymphs.
The most magnificent chessboard with a complete set of chessmen, probably of French workmanship,
is preserved in the Czartoryski Collection. Made of ebony, tortoise-shell and mother-of-pearl, it was a gift
offered by the Sultan of Turkey Ahmed III to Grand Hetman Adam Sieniawski in 1724.
Though the Poles were not an especially musical nation, music was played and composed here from
the Middle Ages, mostly, though not exclusively, church music. Music was played on all social occasions
and great magnates had their own bands of musicians. Musical instruments made in Poland followed
foreign models and the few surviving pieces supplement our knowledge of this field which is derived
mostly from iconographic sources. The Musical Instruments Museum, branch of the National Museum
in Poznah, has among its exhibits several violins made by excellent Polish violin-makers in the late 16th
and early 17th centuries. A violin, made by Groblicz in 1601, is preserved in the National Museum in
Cracow. A wooden music-stand dating from the first half of the 17th century, with carved scenes showing
orchestras playing, has survived at Biecz. The Lvov collections include a beautiful 17th century mouth-
organ with baroque ornaments. Special musical instruments were used in hunting and in the army.
A hunting horn mounted in silver, made from a horn of the last aurochs killed in Poland, was
presented to Sigismund III by Stanislaw Radziejowski in 1620; looted by the Swedes in 1655, it is
now to be seen in Stockholm's Livrustkammaren. Expert craftsmen were employed in making stage sets
for dramas performed at the royal court, especially operas which Ladislaus IV favoured particularly.
They also decorated various scientific instruments such as astrolabes, telescopes, globes and above all
clocks of which many have been preserved.
probably by Vilna bookbinders in a style recalling books in Sigismund Augustus' collection. Important
documents were also beautifully bound in red leather, with gilded armorial bearings and ornaments. For
example, the certificate of knighthood issued in Warsaw to Hieronim Pinocci in T662, features the Great
Seal of State. In the 17th century, Polish bookbinding came under the influence of western styles, such
as a la fanfare in which the whole surface was covered in ornaments, or fan-shaped and lace motifs,
oriental themes (Persian-Turkish) with an oval-shaped medallion , in the centre and quarter-ovals at the
corners. Armorial bearings appeared on bindings of books owned by the clergy, university professors,
the gentry and the burghers. Law-court records and municipal documents were customarily bound in
fine high-quality bindings. In connection with the spreading cult of Our Lady, in the late 17th century
Marian emblems appeared on books bound in Vilna, while Saxon bindings featured fun-shaped designs
and French rococo motifs. During the reign of Stanislaus Augustus the rococo style was gradually superseded
by the French classicism of Louis XVI. At the same time a 'historical' style first appeared in attempts
to imitate bookbindings from the period of Sigismund Augustus. Simple bindings ol morocco leather
had the royal coat-of-arms on the front cover, and the inscription 'Stanislaus Augustus Rex Poloniae
Saeculorum Posteritati Vindicit' on the back. Bindings of manuscripts in the famous Zaluski Library,
which were endowed by Stanislaus Augustus, carried the royal armorial devices and the inscription
'Patriae Patris Stanislai Augusti Cura et Liberalitate Regia', and the year of binding. Gradually Warsaw
took precedence over the traditional centres of bookbinding, Cracow, Vilna, Lvov and Poznan.
Chess, draughts and trick-track boards, dice and cards, as a rule artistically fashioned, were also produced
by the artistic crafts. Towards the end of the 18th century, card games became the height of fashion in
court and aristocratic circles. Home-made cards and gaming tables followed strictly western models.
At the same time social games of eastern origin, chess for example, had a long tradition in Poland. The
Czartoryski Collection in Cracow has among its exhibits a beautiful chessbox inlaid with yellow and green
ornaments, which is linked with King Stephen Bathory and Hetman Jan Zamoyski. It has a trick-track
(a variety of backgammon) board inside and a chequers and chess board outside. The box contains only
draughtsmen and trick-track pieces of stamped wood; .the white pieces bear the likeness and-coat-of-arms
of Stephen Bathory, while the black pieces feature the likeness and coat-of-arms of Jan Zamoyski, and
the date 1584. The board resembles in style South German furniture from the latter half of the 16th
century, though it could have been made in Poland. On the other hand the chessboard of Sigismund HI,
preserved in the State Art Collections of Wawel Castle, was probably made in Gdansk in 1608. It
is 3 o by 30 centimetres only, of ebony, ivory, amber and meershaum. The armorial bearings and inscriptions
featuring on it indicate that it was a gift from Hieronim Wollowicz, Lord Treasurer of Lithuania. Next
to the dedication 'Otii Causa Domino Suo Servus Dedicat' (for pastime the Lord is given this by his
servant), the board is adorned with quotations from Ovid's Ars Amatoria and representations of nymphs.
The most magnificent chessboard with a complete set of chessmen, probably of French workmanship,
is preserved in the Czartoryski Collection. Made of ebony, tortoise-shell and mother-of-pearl, it was a gift
offered by the Sultan of Turkey Ahmed III to Grand Hetman Adam Sieniawski in 1724.
Though the Poles were not an especially musical nation, music was played and composed here from
the Middle Ages, mostly, though not exclusively, church music. Music was played on all social occasions
and great magnates had their own bands of musicians. Musical instruments made in Poland followed
foreign models and the few surviving pieces supplement our knowledge of this field which is derived
mostly from iconographic sources. The Musical Instruments Museum, branch of the National Museum
in Poznah, has among its exhibits several violins made by excellent Polish violin-makers in the late 16th
and early 17th centuries. A violin, made by Groblicz in 1601, is preserved in the National Museum in
Cracow. A wooden music-stand dating from the first half of the 17th century, with carved scenes showing
orchestras playing, has survived at Biecz. The Lvov collections include a beautiful 17th century mouth-
organ with baroque ornaments. Special musical instruments were used in hunting and in the army.
A hunting horn mounted in silver, made from a horn of the last aurochs killed in Poland, was
presented to Sigismund III by Stanislaw Radziejowski in 1620; looted by the Swedes in 1655, it is
now to be seen in Stockholm's Livrustkammaren. Expert craftsmen were employed in making stage sets
for dramas performed at the royal court, especially operas which Ladislaus IV favoured particularly.
They also decorated various scientific instruments such as astrolabes, telescopes, globes and above all
clocks of which many have been preserved.