Tapestries in Poland, Textile art collection in Knyszyn, Poland.
The tapestries in Knyszyn are a significant textile art collection featuring intricately woven pieces made with wool, silk, and gold threads that reflect traditional Polish craftsmanship. The Wawel Castle Museum displays approximately 30 of the 138 surviving pieces, with some measuring up to 5 by 9 meters (15 by 27 feet).
The collection originated in the 16th century when King Sigismund II Augustus commissioned 365 tapestries from Brussels workshops to decorate the royal Wawel Castle in Kraków. These textiles became state property of the Polish Crown through the king's will and have been regarded as national treasures ever since.
The collection displays large-scale tapestries depicting biblical scenes, the story of Noah, and classical scenes from the Trojan War. These works tell stories through richly detailed images that once decorated the walls of royal rooms.
The collection is primarily displayed at the Wawel Castle Museum in Kraków rather than in Knyszyn, so visiting requires a trip to the city. It is helpful to check in advance which pieces are currently on view, as the items rotate regularly and not all are shown at the same time.
A notable aspect is that only 138 of the original 365 commissioned pieces have survived, with many lost through wars, relocations, and time. This fact makes the remaining tapestries even more valuable and rare than originally intended.
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