Before the invasion by neighbouring countries, known as the Deluge (1655-1660), Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth ranked among the wealthiest countries in Europe and its monarchs successfully competed with rulers of other nations as patron of arts.

Support this publication. 

Work in progress.

Support this publication. 

Although the existence of royal busts is purely hypothetical and not confirmed by sources, the fashion for such antique sculptures, stemming from Italy and Imperial court in Prague and Vienna, udoubtedly found its reflection in the cosmopolitan court of the Vasas in Kraków and Warsaw. Bronze cartouche with coat of arms of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from the Wawel Castle, a full plastic bronze cast that preserved to our days and commissioned by Sigismund III in about 1604 to adorn overdoor in the northern wing of the castle leading to the Senators' Staircase, confirms that the Vasa residences were filled with such items. 
​
In 1624, the Bishop of Kraków, Marcin Szyszkowski, who titled himself "the most faithful servant of the House of Austria" and who together with Zygmunt Myszkowski brought the Queen Constance from Graz to Poland, sponsored a new architectural dome canopy over the reliquary of Saint Stanislaus in the Wawel Cathedral in the style of Roman baroque. It is the work of the royal architect Giovanni Battista Trevano, the same who rebuilt the Royal Castle in Warsaw, made of black and rose marble, gilt-bronze and wood, created in the years 1626-1629. Gilt bronze figures of the Evangelists and Patrons Saints of Poland, flanking the cupola over the canopy, were cast by Antonio Lagostini, active in Kraków from around 1624. In the year of completion of this work, the bishop also ordered a tomb monument for himself in the cathedral near the canopy. According to the letter from Marcin Szyszkowski to Andrzej Łukomski, a Canon of the Cracow Cathedral Chapter, of 20 January 1629, this was also commissioned from Trevano and Lagostini. The model for the cast bronze bust should be attributed to the sculptors related to Trevano, Andrea and Antonio Castelli, sculptors from Lugano, active in Kraków from about 1623. 

If existed, the royal busts were undoubtedly made in gilded bronze, just as majority of the similar works preserved in many European countries and Bishop Szyszkowski's bust. The material and its frequent military reuse, would also explain why the works have not preserved, as in case of bronze garden statues of Ladislaus IV's garden of the Villa Regia Palace in Warsaw, which are confirmed in sources. The preserved bronze statue of King Sigismund III at the column, so-called Sigismund Column in Warsaw, was also initially gilded.

The reconstruction is based on royal portrait paintings with Spanish composition from the 1610s created by workshop of court painter Jakob Troschel, which were in the collection of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg before World War II. Both effigies, possibly from dowry of Polish-Lithuanian Princess Anna Catherina Constance Vasa, are highly schematical and idealized, hence facial features are based on more realistic effigies of the royal pair created by other court painters. 

​Gilded bronze bust of King Sigismund III Vasa, mid-1610s to 1631. Hypothetical reconstruction by Marcin Latka ©. All rights reserved. 

​Gilded bronze bust of Queen Constance of Austria, mid-1610s to 1631. Hypothetical reconstruction by Marcin Latka ©. All rights reserved. 

See more pictures of Bronze busts of Sigismund III Vasa and Constance of Austria on Pinterest - Artinpl and Artinplhub

Support this publication. 

Princess Anna Catherine Constance Vasa was born in Warsaw on August 7th, 1619. She was the only daughter of Sigismund III Vasa and his second wife Constance of Austria that survied the childhood and the youngest of royal pair's children. 

Large Spanish style pendants, like the one described here, become less fashionable with the introduction of the French style in the mid-1630s, that prompted frontal brooches. The creation of the pendant could be then closed in the time span between mid-1620s and 1638 when Anna Catherine Constance came of age and came into possession of counties bestowed to her by the parliament. It was also probably in 1638 that Princess' portrait in red Spanish dress with two gold pendants was created (today in the Imperial castle in Nuremberg).

King Sigismund III, himself a talented goldsmith, possibly stood behind the compex emblematic program of this jewel, although it is also possible that it was created long after his death in 1632. Since 1637, a marriage was suggested between Anne Catherine Constance and Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Austria, heir of Tyrol and nephew of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor. Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg, and Gaston, Duke of Orléans (brother of King Louis XIII of France), were also candidates for her hand. A jewel stressing splendid dynastic connections and emphasizing vastness of territories ruled by the family would perfectly fit into the Princess' situation at that time. Several heraldic jewels were featured in the official portraits of Anna Catherine Constance's mother Constance of Austria. 

Anna Catherine Constance's father Sigismund III Vasa was elected monarch of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, bi-federation of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch in real union, who was both King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. Since Sigismund's crowning in 1592, Polish Vasas claimed themselves rightful hereditary rulers of Sweden, consequently ignoring  Sigismund's dethronement of 1598 by the Swedish parliament. 

Anna Catherine Constance finally married Philip William of Neuburg (1615-1690), in Warsaw on 8 June 1642. She brought a considerable dowry in jewels and cash, calculated at a total of 2 million thalers. The inventory of Princess' jewels preserved in the Czartoryski Library in Kraków summarizes their value to 443,289 1/3 hard thalers.

The heraldic pendant is listed 18th in the section Pendants: A diamond pendant with Figures of the late King Sigmunt and Constantia with crowns on their heads, in the middle ruby grain, and beneath white Eagle, at the bottom coat of arms of the Duchy of Lithuania, on the right hand Swedish and on the left hand Austrian; above this ruby grain a yellow Lion with open jaw, in the front two fangs holds Zygmunt and Constantia together, on the sides and on the bottom five carved round hanging diamonds, valued at 2,000 thalers.

It is hard to determine the degree of accuracy of the inventory both in terms of description of items as well as valuation. One "large diamond" in a ring was valued at 30,000 thalers and a ring with "coat of arms of Austria" was valued at only 40 thalers. Also traditionally the Queen was depited to the right and the King to the left, and not like in the description of the pendant, which finds confirmation in Sigismund and Constance's portraiture, as well as location of the royal stalls in the Cathedral of Saint John in Warsaw.

The inventory also includes:

A necklace of 22 parts, among which 11 with a diamond in a middle, 3 square cut, 3 triangle cut, and set with two pearls. Another 11 parts in which a Lion's head in the center having a pearl in its mouth, four diamonds and four pearls set around it. All with a pendant with sixty two cut diamonds, and on top of a Lion's head and six hanging pearls, a gift from the Queen to the Princess, valued at 80,000 thalers;

A pendant in which a Lion with three crowns in the shape of the Swedish coat of arms with twenty-six different diamonds, and three hanging pearls, valued at 150 thalers and
​
A pendant in which a white Eagle with a large ruby on the chest, three small ruby parts, and three large pearls, valued at 700 thalers.

The inventory also lists A white Eagle, having a coat of arms on his cheast at which two rubies, all set with diamonds, with three hanging pearls, valued at 1,200 thalers, which is most probably identical with "diamond eagle with rubies" of the House of Austria received in 1543 by Elizabeth of Austria (1526-1545) from Emperor Charles V on the occasion of her marriage with Sigismund II Augustus of Poland, and preserved in the treasury of the Munich Residence. 

Among renowned jewellers of the Vasas in the first half of the 17th century, that could create the work, were Mikołaj Siedmiradzki (ca. 1550-1630) from Lviv in today's Ukraine, who was in service of Sigismund III since 1604, and who in turn employed in his workshop Mikołaj Pasternakowicz and Zygmunt Frączkiewicz. There were also Jean Barbier from Lorraine, active in Kraków from about 1605, who moved to Gdańsk in 1625 and Beniamin Lanier (d. 1630) from Vitry-le-François in north-eastern France, who was active in Kraków from 1606, both court jewellers of Sigismund III. Jakub Burnett from Edinburgh who settled in Lviv in the first half of the 17th century was employed by Ladislaus IV. Members of the family also commissioned jewels abroad, like Prince John Casimir Vasa who in 1643 paid 9000 florins for jewels to Samuel von Sorgen from Vienna and 189 florins "For diamond heart to Mr Jakub jeweller".

Anna Catherine Constance died childless in Cologne on 8 October 1651 and was buried in the church of the Jesuits in Düsseldorf. It is due to purely heraldic character of the jewel, high value of the material and new fashion for more simple jewels that the pendant was most probably melted down, possibly still in the 17th century. 

Excerpt from Inventory of Jewels of Her Highness Duchess of Neuburg, Crown Princess of Poland (Spisanie Kleynotów Xiężney Iey Mości Neyburskiey, Królewney Polskiey) by Royal Chancery in Warsaw, 1645, Czartoryski Library in Kraków. Fragment describing Heraldic pendant of Anna Catherine Constance Vasa.

Heraldic pendant of Anna Catherine Constance Vasa, mid-1620s to 1638. Hypothetical reconstruction by Marcin Latka ©. All rights reserved.

See more pictures of Jewels of the Polish Vasas on Pinterest - Artinpl and Artinplhub

Support this publication. 

Work in progress.

Support this publication. 

During his stay in Antwerp in 1624, the Crown Prince of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Ladislaus Sigismund Vasa visited Peter Paul Rubens' workshop, admired Jan Brueghel the Elder's paintings and visited the famous art collection of Cornelis van der Geest. He also went to see the tapissierspand (Tapestry house), on the site of the current Bourla Theater, on September 24, 1624. We visited a house, writes Stefan Pac, in his diary where they sell beautiful and precious tapestries that are sent all over the world. A few days later, on October 5, 1624 Gaspard Nagodt, treasurer of the Prince of Poland, signed a contract with a Brussels' weaver Jacob Geubels the Younger for delivery of ten tapestries representing the Story of Odysseus (Ulysses) of six yards height each, interwoven with gold and silver thread. The complete set comprised 594 yards and cost 19,008 florins. On October 12, 1624 another contract was signed for a series called "with greenery" i.e. verdure tapestries or "Landscapes and Bocages in fresco", for 9207 florins. 

An Antwerp merchant, Jan Bierens, "agent and domestic of His Highness the Serene Prince Wladislaus Sigismundus, Prince of Poland and Sweden", oversaw the weaving of the tapestries of the Story of Odysseus and verdures that Geubels the Younger made in Brussels. A lawsuit brought by Geubels against Jan Bierens in December 1626 for payment, confirms that at least a part of the commissioned tapestries was ready by this date.

Notations in the archives reveal the existence of the prince's agents, such as mentioned Jan Bierens and Georges Deschamps or the Frenchman Mathieu Rouault. They had to satisfy Ladislaus Sigismund's creditors and ensure that everything was executed and sent to Poland.

Probably due to Prince's financial difficulties the whole set not executed till Geubels' death in 1629 and the commission was accomplished by an unknown workshop. 

It is uncertain when the Story of Odysseus and verdure tapestries were dispatched from Antwerp and when they arrived in Poland. Ladislaus Sigismund, the newly elected monarch of the Commonwealth as Ladislaus IV, wanted to have them before his coronation on February 6, 1633 in Kraków.

By a notarial deed of January 12, 1632 we learn that Jan Bierens had received three chests containing approximately two hundred and fifty - three silver marcs from the hands of Francesco Gissa and Joannes Curius, one butler and the other secretary of Abbot Mikołaj Wojciech Gniewosz (d. 1654), Ambassador of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Antwerp merchant had given them two thousand three hundred and ten rixdales as a pledge and had promised to send the precious delivery to Gdańsk to the address of Abraham Pels.

In the letter from September 15, 1632 Ladislaus IV asked Christian IV of Denmark to release his tapestries from customs (Rkps Riqsarkivet, Polen A. I, 3).

According to François Mols, a number of tapestry cartoons by Jacob Jordaens with the date 1620 were sold at Antwerp in 1774. It is belived that these tapestries were inspired by knowledge of Primaticcio's lost frescoes of the same subject at Fontainebleau. A document from May 15, 1656 in the archives of Antwerp in which Jacob Geubels, son of Jacob Geubels the Younger, had undertaken to weave, tapestries representing the Story of Ulysses after cartoons by Jordaens, confirms that the series were made to his design.

Lavish tapestries "hang up in foreign style" among "golden Netherlandish arts" are mentioned in Adam Jarzębski's "Short Description of Warsaw" (The Main Road, or a Short Description of Warsaw) from 1643, as adorning Ladislaus IV's Palace Villa Regia in Warsaw (1950-1956).

The series was inherited by Ladislaus' brother John II Casimir, who took them to France after his abdication in 1668 and was sold on auction in Paris in 1673 to the agent of the Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine for 12,000 French pounds (position 728 of the inventory).

Tapestry with Odysseus threatening Circe by workshop of Jacob Geubels II after cartoon by Jacob Jordaens, 1624-1632, with coat of arms of the Crown Prince of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Ladislaus Sigismund Vasa, the mark of the city of Brussels B B, weaver's monogram and signature IACO GEVBELS. Hypothetical reconstruction by Marcin Latka ©. All rights reserved.

See more pictures of the Villa Regia Palace in Warsaw on Pinterest - Artinpl and Artinplhub

Medieval collection of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Berlin holds three important treasures connected with Poland.
 
When in 1392, the city of Lublin received a trade privilege from king Ladislaus II Jagiello, it developed into a trade centre, handling a large portion of commerce between Poland and Lithuania. Under the rule of the Jagiellon dynasty the Lublin castle enjoyed royal favor and frequent stays by members of the royal family. Two gold brooches in Berlin are tokens of the city’s prosperity thereafter.
 
The first one with a lady hawking, adorned with enamel, and set with a sapphire and pearls is 7.5 cm in diameter (inventory number F 1364). It came through the Albert Figdor’s collection in Vienna into the possession of the Berlin museum. According to the catalogue of the Figdor’s collection, it was found in the ruins of the Konopnica castle near Lublin. This information is not very accurate, since there was no castle in Konopnica and the only old ruins in the village are those of a church campanile from 1781, although the document from 1428 confirms the existence of the Saint Catherine’s church there. It is possible that the jewel was lost or hidden by its owner in the church. This owner could be certain Jan Chmielowski, tenant of the village of Konopnica, whose bad management led to a peasant revolt between 1615 and 1616 and who died during this time. He is noted for his taste for Eastern garments and as owner of 10 stylish ferezja (overcoat of eastern origin lined with fur) valued from 12 to 30 zlotys. Such coat, as well as another very popular delia, was pinned together or adorned with a clasp or brooch and had decorative fastening by buttons. Around that time Florian Ważyński (d. 1617) had in his ferezja coat “two large pearl buttons” (dwa wielkie perłowe guzy).
 
The second brooch with a shield bearer is also adorned with enamel and set with gemstones and pearls, a height of 6.5 cm and a width of 4.5 cm (inventory number F 3515). It was discovered as part of a gold hoard in 1836 in Abramowice, now part of Lublin, by men working in the courtyard of a manor house there and was dispersed among them. The owner managed to retrieve a gold brooch, three gold rings, two buckles and some ducats of king Matthias Corvinus. The brooch was sold to Mrs Maria Strojnowska owner of Dominów near Lublin and later acquired by the Berlin museum.
 
The first mention about the manor house in Abramowice comes from the Liber beneficiorum of Jan Długosz from 1393 and tells about the owner of the knight's farm - Sieciech (Sethegius), and then - Andrzej and Jan Klimuntowski of the Topór coat of arms. At the end of the 15th century, Abramowice belonged to Jan Ossoliński, who pledged his property for 250 Hungarian florins to the Lublin judge Mikołaj Pszonka, one of the founders of the Babin Republic. The current manor was built in 1790 for Ewa née Gałęzowska and her husband Stanisław Kossowski.
 
A note in Liber colloquiorum from 1447, that Mikołaj Michałowski, castellan of Kraków had moniliorum alias clasp et torqvis alias pendant with pearls (moniliorum alias zaponicze et torqvis alias noszenye de margaritis) of 700 florins worth, and the inventory of the state jewels from July 1607, which lists a clasp with a ruby rose adorned with pearls and other jewels, 9 different diamond clasps with Saint George, one with king David holding Goliath’s head and a clasp with Vulcan made of white enamel sitting on a three-facet cut diamond, confirms the taste for exquisite jewels in Poland from the medieval times.
 
Stylistically and due to technique of encrusted enamel used to decorate both brooches, they should be attributed to French or Burgundian workshops, although it cannot be excluded that at least one of them was produced locally. 

Gold enamelled and gem-set brooch with a lady hawking found in Konopnica near Lublin by Anonymous from Burgundy or Paris, early 15th century, Museum of Decorative Arts in Berlin. 

Gold gem-set brooch with a shield bearer found in Abramowice near Lublin by Anonymous, early 15th century, Museum of Decorative Arts in Berlin.

Detail of Annunciation, right outer panel of Crucifixion Triptych of the canon Peter von Wartenberg (Piotr z Sycowa) by Wilhelm Kalteysen, 1468, National Museum in Warsaw. 

Brooch from the coronation mantle with a woman giving birth, fragment of tomb monument of King Casimir IV Jagiellon by Veit Stoss and Jörg Huber in Kraków, 1492-1496, Wawel Cathedral.

Detail of portrait of Prince Ladislaus Sigismund Vasa in Polish costume by circle of Peter Paul Rubens, 1620s, Pitti Palace in Florence. 

Detail of portrait of Jakub Sobieski by Anonymous, ca. 1643, Lviv National Art Gallery.

The reliquary holding a capsule for the presentation of the relic in its pedestal with Saint George fighting the dragon is one of two similar vessels from Elbląg in Prussia, the city which come under the sovereignty of the Polish crown in 1454. Both containers were created in the third quarter of the 15th century, most probably around the year of 1475. The one in Berlin was found in a niche of the church of Saint George in Elbląg, where it had been walled in 1564 or in about 1520. It was discovered in 1652 and then given to the Epiphany church in Elbląg. In 1773 the superior of this church, Christian Gottlieb Wulff, acquired the reliquary for the sum of 55 thalers. In 1876 it was cleaned and restored by Elbląg’s goldsmith Emil Höpner for the current owner Ferdynand Kamiński, the court councilor of Elbląg. Two years later, in 1878, the vessel was offered by Albert Katz from Zgorzelec to the Berlin museum (inventory number 1878,618). Saint George on a base, holding a Hungarian-Turkish type sword, is 30.5 cm high and weighs 957 g. The second, similar container, today in Hamburg, was commissioned by the St. George’s Brotherhood in Elbląg for this saint's altar in Saint Nicholas church in Elbląg. In the second quarter of the 16th century it was put into storage in the City hall and discovered there in 1773 in the basement. Then sold on auction, it returned to the St. George’s Brotherhood in 1811 where it was kept untill 1945. In 1950 the second reliquary was given by Philipp F. Reemts to the Hamburg Museum of Art and Design (inventory number 1950.31). The Hamburg vessel is larger with 46 cm high and weighs 2370 g and is adorned coral, amethysts and rubies.
 
Just as later reliquary of Saint George created for the Brotherhood of Blackheads in Riga in 1507, the containers from Elbląg are attributed to the workshop of Bernt Notke in Lübeck or Israhel van Meckenem, whose print from mid-15th century could be a model for Elbląg works, although it cannot be excluded that all of them were created by local workshops. 

Silver-gilt St. George's reliquary from Elbląg by Anonymous (Bernt Notke in Lübeck?), ca. 1475, Museum of Decorative Arts in Berlin.

Fragment of silver-gilt St. George's reliquary from Elbląg by Anonymous (Bernt Notke in Lübeck?), ca. 1475, Museum of Decorative Arts in Berlin.

Silver-gilt St. George's reliquary from Elbląg by Anonymous (Bernt Notke in Lübeck?), ca. 1480, Museum of Art and Design in Hamburg. 

See more pictures of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth on Pinterest - Artinpl and Artinplhub

See more pictures of Medieval Poland on Pinterest - Artinpl and Artinplhub

See more pictures of Medieval Pomerania on Pinterest - Artinpl and Artinplhub

The invasion of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth by neighbouring countries in the year of 1655 ended almost a century period of prosperity since the establishment of the noble republic in 1569. This war, one of the worst in country's history, and known as the Deluge (1655-1660), resulted in the loss of approximately 25% of the population in four core provinces, destruction of 188 cities and towns, 81 castles, and 136 churches. It had a profound impact on all aspects of life and future generations as well as on country's culture. Invasion and occupation by Lutherans from north and west (Sweden and Brandenburg), Calvinists from the south (Transylvania) and Orthodox from east and south (Russia, Wallachia and Moldavia) also significantly strengthened Catholics in previously multi-religious nation. The invaders were renowned for looting even marble flooring and church vestments. In 1658 Swedish troops of commander Pleitner murdered in the church in Skrwilno the local vicar, Father Walerian Cząpski for refusing to declare where he hidden "the treasure of the church".

In those circumstances, between 1655 and 1660, Zofia Magdalena Loka of Rogala coat of arms, owner of Okalewo estate and widow of Stanisław Piwo of Prawdzic coat of arms, deputy cup-bearer of Płock, hidden in the remains of the 11th century settlement in Skrwilno, her most valuable belongings. Discovered in 1961 in a shallow, approx. 50-cm excavation, were gold objects of more than 2 kg weigh, and silver objects of about 5 kg weigh. The treasure consist of the most exquist works of art including gold jewellery from the first half of the 17th century, like pendant with the figure of Fortune set with precious stones and coated with blue, white and green enamel, 6 chains including a chain set with precious stones made up of circular open work links and eight rosettes set with rubies and turquoises, 4 bracelets, two of them with clasps laid over with green, blue, or white enamel and the third coated with black enamel bearing the letters I.H.S. engraved amid the acanthus leaf motif, 16 żupan buttons of Stanisław Piwo, 5 gold and set with rubies, 5 with rock crystal, and 6 made of gilded silver. There is also a silver belt with imitation of encrusting, a silver filigree chain, a fragment of filigree gold chain with enamelled elements, 4 rings and 51 pearls. 

Silver tableware constitute the other part of the treasure. It includes silver lavabo set with Rogala coat of arms created by Balthasar Grill in Augsburg and commissioned by Jan Loka, starost of Borzechowo, father of Zofia, a pair of scissors for trimming candle wicks with Prawdzic coat of arms, two silver candlesticks made in Toruń and Brodnica, 12 silver spoons by Hans Nickel, William de Lassensy, Reinhold Sager and Hans Martelius, finest Toruń silversmiths of the time, and a tankard.
​
Stanisław Piwo died on January 17, 1649 at the age of 53, hence before the invasion, and was buried in the Benedictine nuns Church in Sierpc, where his wife founded him a tomb monument in marble and alabaster depicting him kneeling before the crucified Christ. The tomb was most probably destroyed in 1655, when a Swedish troop looted the Benedictine Monsatery or in 1794 during the fire of the church. Zofia was 10 years younger then her husband and they were married for 26 years. Both Zofia nad Stanisław wer benefactors of many local churches - in 1644 Stanisław offered to the church in Sierpc a gold cloth chasuble and his wife in 1649 offered a silver plaque. In 1650, a year after death of her husband she offered a veil emboidered with gold thread for the image of Our Lady of Sierpc. She lived for few years in her large wooden manor in Okalewo and during the Deluge, she probably left for Gostynin. Nothing is known about her later years.

​Gold chain set with precious stones of Zofia Magdalena Loka by Anonymous from Germany or Poland, ca. 1600, District Museum in Toruń.

​Pendant with the figure of Fortune of Zofia Magdalena Loka by Anonymous from Transylvania or Poland, turn of the 16th and 17th century, District Museum in Toruń.

​Bracelet with a stylized cartouche of Zofia Magdalena Loka by Anonymous from Poland, first quarter of the 17th century, District Museum in Toruń.

​Silver lavabo set of Jan Loka, starost of Borzechowo by Balthasar Grill, 1615-1617, District Museum in Toruń.

See more pictures of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth on Pinterest - Artinpl and Artinplhub

The inventory was prepared by a special commision appointed by King John III Sobieski and formed in 1681 basing on the Parliament decission from the same year.

(Extract)

Casket IV.

14. Diamond pendant with monogram S.A. [of Sigismund Augustus], under a crown set with rubies, with three additional rubies and a large pear-shaped pearl.

17. Clasp with diamond Saint Michael, set with a large ruby [?], an emerald, 6 smaller rubies, 3 pearls.

18. Diamond cross, 6 rubies, 3 emeralds.

19. Cross with 10 diamonds, 3 pearls.

21. Medallion with Venus and Mars with 2 sharp diamonds, 12 smaller diamonds, 10 rubies.

28. Pendant with letter A [of Queen Anna Jagiellon?] made from 4 rubies, round pearl.

36. Whistle in the form of a owl, 2 rubies, 2 diamonds, 2 diamond roses, 5 pearls.

37. Medallion with Leda and the swan, 8 diamonds, 3 rubies, emerald.

39. Cameo with bust of Charles V on yellow stone.

41. Medallion with the Judgement of Paris, diamonds, rubies.

50. Medallion with the Gigantomachy with a ruby in the center, 6 other rubies, 7 diamonds.

52. Clasp with King David, 2 rubies, smaller diamond, 25 diamonds, rubies, emeralds.

53. Large clasp with diamond Saint George, pearl dragon, 6 pearls, 24 other stones.

55. Gold lion, 6 rubies, 4 diamonds, emerald.

Casket V.

2. Medallion with god Vulcan, 13 diamonds, small ruby, emerald.

4. Medallion with Gaius Mucius Scaevola, 5 diamonds, 4 rubies.

5. Clasp with diamond Saint George or Saint Michael with different tablets and diamond lilies.

7. Gold effigy of Charles V on stone.

9. Clasp with diamond Saint George without a horse.

11. Pendant with diamond Christogram IHS, a ruby at the top and a tablet with diamonds, 2 pearls.

13. Clasp with diamond King David, 6 emeralds, 18 rubies, 4 diamonds.

14. Gold dragon pipe with two large diamonds, smaller diamonds, rubies, emeralds, turquoises, 2 pearls.

15. Large clasp with diamond Saint Michael, 3 Indian pearls.

24. Diamond Saint George with emeralds and diamonds, 3 stones missing.

31. Whistle in the form of a Melusine with diamonds and rubies, 1 stone missing, 2 pearls.

33. Medallion with Mars and Venus, 3 rubies, 3 diamonds.

34. Medallion with Judgement of Solomon, emerald rows, 11 rubies, 8 emeralds.

35. Medallion with Deborah and Sisera, 6 diamonds, 4 rubies.

37. Medallion with Marcus Curtius, 3 diamonds, 2 rubies.

38. Medallion with Orpheus, 5 stones.

Casket VI.

3. Agate medallion with a Roman face, diamond frame, 3 rubies.

4. Clasp with diamond Saint George, 3 rubies, 3 emeralds, pearls.

5. Medallion with Venus with a mirror, 7 diamonds, small ruby and a small pearl.

7. Pendant with a folded diamond rose, two ruby figures, 3 emeralds, large pearl, 43 tablets of diamonds.

Casket VII.

7. Gold fan handle with 5 diamonds, 4 emeralds, 2 turquoises, 11 pearls.

8. Another fan handle, 12 diamonds, 8 rubies, 1 emerald, 16 pearls.

Casket X.

3. Large pendant with elongated diamond of 22 1/4 carates, small pearl 12.

14. Largest diamond with a pearl of 27,5 carates weight, valued at 20.000 aureos, pearl 2.500 aureos.

Summary of the Jewel Commission
presented to the Lord Treasurer of the Crown, Year 1682
Value of all jewels of the Commonwealth in red zlotys ... 101.670

Gold medallion with Sacrifice of Isaac by Anonymous from Poland, turn of the 16th and 17th century, Treasury of the Jasna Góra Monastery.

​Gold pendant with Annunciation to Mary by Anonymous from Poland, first quarter of the 17th century, Treasury of the Norbertines Convent in Kraków.

See more pictures of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth on Pinterest - Artinpl and Artinplhub

The richly decorated 17th-century monstrance of Bishop Stanisław Kazimierz Dąmbski's foundation, is used exclusively for displaying the Blessed Sacrament on Good Friday and during the solemn procession of the Resurrection on Holy Saturday. It was created between 1680 and 1699 possibly by a Silesian goldsmith Christian Schrötter in Kamienna Góra. Made in silver and adorned with semi-precious stones, it represents Christ in the form of a Host, accompanied by figures from the Old (Abraham, Melchizedek) and New Testament (Mother of God, St. Joseph, St. Peter). It was bequeathed to the Wawel Cathedral by the founder as an equivalent for the gold chalice and silver sanctuary lamp offered traditionally by the bishops at their inauguration.

​Bishop Stanisław Dąmbski's monstrance by Christian Schrötter in Kamienna Góra, 1680-1699, Cathedral Museum at Wawel Hill in Kraków.

See more pictures of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth on Pinterest - Artinpl and Artinplhub

The monstrance, a chief example of the 17th century Polish goldsmithery, was commissioned by Augustyn Kordecki, Abbot of the Jasna Góra Monastery and later Provincial of the Pauline Fathers, as an ex-voto for the defence of the monastery during the invasion of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth by the neighbouring nations in 1655, so-called Deluge. It was created in 1672 in Warsaw by Royal goldsmith Wacław Grotko from Prague in Czechia (also known as Grottke or Grottkau, active in Warsaw between 1665 and 1675), who was paid 30,000 zlotys in gold. 

The work was made from jewels donated by pilgrims to the monastery. Over one meter high (103 cm) and over 13 kg weight monstrance was adorned with 2.366 diamonds, 2.208 rubies, 30 saphires, 81 emeralds, 215 pearls and enamel. A large diamond set in the crown at the top, was bequeathed to the monastery by Zygmunt Przerembski, voivode of Sieradz in 1668. Prophet Aaron and King David kneeling at both sides of the glory are holding wheat sheaves, an eucharistic symbol. Scenes at the foot of the monstrance are related to two themes: the sacrifice of Christ (the Sacrifice of Abraham and the Passover) and the eucharist (Elijah in the Desert and the Last Supper).
​
According to inscription on the base of the monstrance, Father Augustyn Kordecki was Provincial, Father Stanisław Ligęza was Abbot of the Jasna Góra Monastery and Father Romuald Dymalski was Sacristan of the monastery at the time of its creation. 

​Abbot Augustyn Kordecki's monstrance by Wacław Grotko in Warsaw, 1672, Treasury of the Jasna Góra Monastery.

See more pictures of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth on Pinterest - Artinpl and Artinplhub

​The General Inventory of the Wilanów Palace from November 10th, 1696 is a document preserved in the Archive of Old Documents in Warsaw. It includes approximately 3500 items - 433 paintings, 1200 thalers worth jewels (only priced positions) and 4801 grzywnas (1100 kg) of silver (only positions with weight included) supervised by burgraves Brochocki and Cieszkowski and delivered by supervisors of silver Mr. Dyniewicz and Hyacynt Kredencerz. The document was prepared in Złoczów for Prince Aleksander Sobieski by burgrave Stanisław Cieszkowski basing on earlier General Register.

The documents provides supplementary information on some of the most precious items in the Royal Collection like the canopy above the King’s bed which was described by Papal nuntio in Poland Andrea Santa Croce as “a gobelin with pearls and precious stones” presented to the King by shah of Persia. According to the inventory, the canopy was made from rich velvet “Persian fabric” with colorful pattern with figures on gold background. However the inventory does not include some rarities from the King’s library, promised by the King to the Fatebenefratelli in Lwów, like for example “one horn of a sea unicorn whale, crocodile, a head of a sawfish (or a crocodile), whale fin, rhinoceros horn, sea cancer”.

(Extract)

Jewels (172 items)

No. 1. | P. Ale: | Pure gold watch set with diamonds | 580 thalers

No. 31. | P. Const: | IESVS monogram set with diamonds with three pearls | 220 thalers

No. 36. | P. Alex: | Image of Our Lady set with diamonds | 200 thalers

No. 40. | P. Ale: | Jasper figurine with gold, set with diamonds, emeralds and rubies | 150 thalers

No. 60. | P. Jaco: | Ring with coat of arms of the King | 

No. 97. | P. Con: | Big knife with crystal handle set with turquoises | 100 thalers

Silverware (122 items)

No. 4. | | Silver bowl made in Augsburg with a cover with phoenix | weight 36 grzywnas

No. 8. | | Three storey fountain with gilded elements made in Augsburg | weight 108 grzywnas

No. 9. | | Silver pyramid with 11 baskets made in Augsburg | weight 45 grzywnas

No. 12. | | Large gilded basin with a jug with eagle | weight 147 grzywnas

No. 13. | | Smooth jug with gilded parts with double headed eagle [imperial or Russian?] | weight 48 grzywnas

No. 19. | | Round gilded basin with a jug with lion and Topór coat of arms | weight 44 grzywnas

No. 21. | | Trimmed basin with the Story of Belisarius made in Augsburg | weight 23 grzywnas

No. 22. | | Similar basin with the Story of Mordecai | weight 18 grzywnas

No. 23. | | Trimmed tray with the Story of Bacchus made in Augsburg | weight 14 grzywnas

No. 24. | | Round tray with a person pointing finger made in Augsburg | weight 11 grzywnas

No. 25. | | Tray with Neptune made in Augsburg | weight 9 grzywnas

No. 26. | | Gilded tray with a boar | weight 7 grzywnas

No. 27. | | Silver tray with Magi | weight 12 grzywnas

No. 28. | | Silver tray with handles with Convivium Deorum | weight 14 grzywnas

No. 30. | | Silver tray with gilded handles with a shepherdess with a dog | weight 7 grzywnas

No. 31. | | Basket with gilded handles, Justice and Abundance| weight 11 grzywnas

No. 32. | | Basket with gilded handles with three goddess | weight 14 grzywnas

No. 33. | | Basket with gilded handles with Quatuor Anni tempora | weight 12 grzywnas

No. 42. | | Serving silver tray with King’s coat of arms made in Paris | weight 4 grzywnas

No. 44. | | Gilded set for one person with King’s coat of arms made in Paris | weight 11 grzywnas

No. 52. | | Two gilded trays engraved with fruits and butterfly made in Augsburg | weight 9 grzywnas

No. 79. | | Pair of vases with large handles with bases with King’s coat of arms made in Paris| weight 536 grzywnas

No. 81. | | Silver screen with angels and a crown made in Augsburg | weight 242 grzywnas

No. 88. | | Twelve gilded plates with King’s coat of arms| weight 33 grzywnas

No. 92. | | 22 smooth gilded plates with coat of arms and letters A.R. | weight 51 grzywnas

Goldsmithery (538 items)

No. 1. | P.Al:| Gold bowl in the shape of a shell presented by Elector of Brandenburg with his coat of arms | weight 894 red zlotys

No. 2. | P.Iacobus:| Smaller gold bowl with Chinese people and flowers| weight 192 red zlotys

No. 6. | P.Con:| Smooth gold cup on three knobs with coat of arms of Elector of Brandenburg and ducal cap| weight 480 red zlotys

No. 7. | Queen:| Large jasper bowl with gold bottom and gold handles, gold cover with 4 crystals and a crane holding a sapphire| weight 600 red zlotys

No. 8. | P.Iacobus:| Jasper bowl in gold frame set with rubies with eagle’s head | weight 150 red zlotys

No. 9. | P.Al:| Jasper chalice with a high bottom and a silver frame set with rubies, cover with a lily, set with diamonds and emeralds| weight 250 red zlotys

No. 17. | | Black agate casket in gold frame with four columns, set with crystal, and Passion of Christ| weight 500 red zlotys

No. 26. |P.Con.| Engraved crystal bowl with high bottom with crystal eagle | 

No. 42. |P.Al.| Chinese inkwell in the shape of a lectern with a gold lock set with diamonds | 

No. 49. |P.Al.| Nautilus cup in the shape of a ship with a mast on a dolphin | 

No. 64. || Gilded silver figurine of Arion among dolphins | 

No. 70. |P.Al.| Turkish porcelain censer in silver frame set with rubies and other precious stones| 

No. 78. |Princess| Gilded silver casket set lavishly with stones with an eagle at the top| 

No. 80. |P.Iacobus| Nautilus cup in silver frame with a Triton | 

No. 81. |P.Con:| Nautilus cup in silver frame with a gilded swan |
 
No. 82. |P.Iacobus| Box in the shape of a pyramid with 7 green filigree bottles |

No. 84. |P.Al.| Coral bush on a silver pedestal with silver Andromeda |

No. 85. |P.Con.| Green jasper bowl in gold frame, cover with Diana | 40

No. 87. |P.Al.| Pure gold saltcellar with a cover with Cleopatra and a pearl | 115

No. 88. |P.Con.| Heart-shaped bowl in gold frame | 

No. 92. |P.Con.| Our Lady made in coral on a gilded silver pedestal | 

No. 97. |P.Con.| Filigree palace with a garden | 

No. 98. |P.Iacobus.| New bone inlaid checkers with amber pawns in walnut box| 

No. 100. || Mathematical box covered with black leather adorned with silver with King’s arms, two mathematic instruments inside in smaller boxes | 

No. 112. |P. Iacobus.| Silver chimney screen with green glass|
 
No. 113. |P. Al.| A pair of stone pictures with flowers made in Florence, one with a frame the other without | 

No. 120. |P. Al.| Silver altar with Immaculate Conception in a box|
 
P.1 No. 129. |P. Iac.| Pure gold candlestick of 93 red zloty weight|

P.1 No. 130. |P. Con.| Gilded altar with Nativity of Christ in a box|

P.1 No. 131. |P. Al.| Another altar with Resurrection of Christ |

Walled treasury in the southern tower of the Wilanów Palace

P.2 No. 123. |P. Iac.| Ebony table set with silver with an instrument inside and four s-shaped elements on each side in lower part |

P.2 No. 125. |P. Iacobus.| Gilded clock with a sun index with perpendicular |

P.2 No. 126. |P. Constantin| Gilded clock with small turned posts and a perspective (a telescope?)|

P.2 No. 128. |P. Iacobus| A clock with a siren on a black pedestal with six knobs, turret at the top with a figure |

P.2 No. 130. |P. Iacobus| Inkwell set with tortoiseshell and mother of pearl in silver frame |

No. 137. |P. Con. | Filigree silver tray set with precious stones with two cupids in the center |

No. 144. |P. Iacobus. | Jasper chalice set with diamonds, rubies and emeralds 175 silver worth | 175

No. 146. |P. Con. | Small Chinese tray with trimmed borders, lacquered in black with gold with a bowl adorned similarly with a gold stamp inside set with emeralds, accompanied with three Chinese gods made in the same way with nodding heads | 

No. 147. | | Picture on canvas with Our Lady with Saint Francis covered with metal riza adorned with stones, diamonds and pearls in corners, this picture hung always in the bedroom of his Highness in Wilanów| 

No. 148. | | Large ebony cabinet framed in gold with enameled elements, diamonds and precious stones, mirrors in the drawers|
 
No. 160. | P. Iacobus. | Delftware vase with ships and King’s monogram| 

Queen’s Antechamber

No. 161. | | Two large walnut wardrobes set with silver trimmed pieces filled with delftware and porcelain| 

No. 162. | P.Const| Crystal clock in gilded silver frame| 

No. 163. | P. Iacobus. | Velvet wallpapers with crimson flowers on yellow background | 

Al fresco painted cabinet

No. 170. | | Red tortoiseshell cabinet on six legs | 

Queen’s Bedroom

No. 171. | | Large jasper cabinet with drawers adorned with pietra dura and silver, in inner part 9 stone pictures and 18 metals |
 
No. 172. | | Mirror on high pedestal with a clock adorned with stones and silver festoons | 

No. 176. | | Overbed canopy in Chinese style with gold, fringed with gold and silk | 

Queen’s Study

No. 189. |P. Al. | Small ebony table set with silver on crystal legs |
 
No. 193. |P. Al. | Amber cross in a box | 

King’s Antechamber

No. 203. | | Roman cabinet with drawers with Story of Moses behind glass, in this cabinet a clock with a lamp and gilded Curtius on horseback at the top | 

No. 204. | | Large cabinet made in Florence adorned with tortoiseshell and other stones, with a clock at the top | 

No. 205. | | Large chair covered with gold fabric with crimson lining with silk fringe with gold and gilded silver knobs|

No. 206. |P. Constanti | Velvet wallpapers with crimson crowns and flowers on golden background |

King’s Bedroom

No. 208. | | Pietra dura table with jasper settings with figures on gilded wooden legs |

No. 210. | | Carved gilded table made in France with arms of the King and Queen covered with profuse Persian fabric at the top |

No. 214. | | Gilded wooden bed carved with shell forms with two cupids standing on turtles on the head side and two dolphins in leg side|

Dutch Study

No. 224. | | Black table with flowers and a parrot in the center on walnut legs|

No. 226. |P.Con | Large amber cross on high pedestal in a box |

No. 229. | | Calambuco wood Three Kings in a shed adorned with rubies and diamonds |

No. 234. |P.Con: | Chinese satin dressing gown adorned with painted flowers with orange cotton linen |

No. 235. |P.Ale: | White satin dressing gown embroidered with flowers and double-headed eagle in the center, scarlet satin linen |

No. 243. |P.Alexander: | A pair of velvet Persian pillows with pyramid pattern on gold background and with orange satin linen |

No. 247. |P.Iacobus. | Turkish tortoiseshell casket set with mother of pearl |

King’s Chinese Study

No. 248. |P. Alexander. | Chinese satin wall hangings with sewn flowers, birds and figures |

No. 250. || Wooden carved and gilded bed made in France with Queen’s monogram |

No. 255. || Chinese gilded table with a drawer on four legs with a Chinese cabinet with drawers atop containing Chinese boxes, gods, pictures, flowers set in brass |

No. 256. ||Gilded wooden statue of a Chinese god |

No. 258. | P.Ale. |Chinese casket set with mother of pearl in brass frame |

King’s dressing room

No. 263. | P.Al: | Ivory casket set with jasper |

No. 271. | P.Iacobus | Square pillow with octagonal crimson flowers on silver and gold background |

No. 275. | | Lying deer with coral antlers |

No. 276. | | Round table with King’s monogram |

No. 277. | P. Alex.| Old elongated Chinese chest with rounded cover, set with mother of pearl |

No. 280. | | Large shell of a sea turtle in form of a shield |

-------

No. 281. |P. Con. | Smooth silver table on a pedestal with checkers inside |

No. 282. |P. Con. | Small ebony angular table on eight legs, set with silver |

No. 290. | | Filigree altar set with precious stones with two pictures, Passion of Christ in upper part and Our Lady of Sorrows in lower part|

No. 291. | To Żółkiew| Large gilded can set with precious stones in a box with white Holy Ghost atop and gilded rays, it was made for the Church in Żółkiew |

No. 295. | given to the Princess| Profuse Persian wall hangings with flowers, birds and letters Ioannes Rex |

No. 312. | P. Alexander. | Two small perfume pillows to the great canopy, one in pearl color satin, sewn with gold and silver thread with a marzipan colored lace, the other one painted with figures|

No. 321. | | Round Turkish leather table embroidered with gold and silver |

No. 330. | | Half-silk wall hanging with flames hung before the bathroom, 7 pieces |

No. 331. | | Velvet red wall hangings with embroidered female figures, 12 large and small pieces |

No. 332. | | Velvet green tapestries with emperors, 10 large and small pieces |

No. 333. | | Canopy from the above set, crimson velvet with coat of arms of ancestors of His Highness |

No. 334. |to the Queen | Tapestry set sewn with gold with battles, received from his highness Elector of Bavaria, 8 pieces |

No. 373. |P. Const. | Canopy made from a rich fabric, with silver flowers on a gold background, with a marzipan colored fringe and one silk rope |

No. 374. || Crimson canopy embroidered in floral motives in gold thread, green silk fringe with gold thread |

No. 377. |P. Alexander| Two crimson velvet portieres with coat of arms of the King with pearl colored satin linen |

No. 381. |One to P. Iacob the other to P. Alex.| Two rich curtains with satin blue center embroidered with gold thread with stars, moon fazes, with green cotton linen |

No. 407. |P. Con:| Persian small crimson kilim in gold and silver striations with blue cotton linen|

No. 419. || Two velvet crimson chairs with patterns and gilded knobs, fringe and gallon in gold|

No. 421. || Folded velvet crimson chairs in a gilded silver frame |

No. 437. || Hanging crystal candlestick in red case |

No. 444. || A pair of paintings with palaces and people in turbans before them in gilded carved frames |

No. 446. |P. Alexander | A pair of paintings on silver plates with Alexander on horseback and His Majesty on the other in black ebony frames |

No. 447. |P. Alexander| Veronica with the veil behind the glass in silver covered frame |

No. 454. |P. Iacob | Gilded wooden inkwell painted with birds |

No. 455. |P. Con: | Small ivory square casket with brass gilded slats in corners with pieces of crystal on sides and cover |

No. 458. |P. Al: | Mother of pearl inkwell with a mirror inside under the cover |

No. 471. |P. Al: | Wooden Chinese tray with a pitcher set with mother of pearl |

No. 487. |P. Al: | Brass table clock in form of a tower on black pedestal |

No. 489. |P. Iac. | Bronze equestrian figure of Gustavus Adolphus |

No. 492. || Jasper green rosaries, and a moose horn with relics of different saints with silver filigree cross |

Paintings (316 items)

No. 1. || Painting with sea ducks with ducklings and a hoopoe in black frame |20

No. 4. || Painting with a dragon with a snake and a hoopoe on a tree in black frame |20

No. 5. || Large painting with Mercury at the table with other gods in carved gilded frame |

Queen’s Antechamber

No. 8. || Dutch painting with a hovel by the sea and land with travelers in black frame |110

No. 10. || Painting with a fire of Amsterdam Town Hall in black frame |110

No. 11. || Pair of paintings with different fruit and sea cancer (crabs?) without frame |12

Queen’s Bedroom

No. 13. || Painting of a lady in white dress with a gentleman playing lute in black frame |100

No. 15. || Painting of a lady in scarlet dress playing clavichord with a gentleman in black frame |100

No. 16. || Passion of Christ in ivory on violet velvet with a gold gallon |150

Queen’s Antechamber

No. 19. || Image of Saint Francis on marble in form of an altar triptych in frame adorned with silver |6

No. 20. || Image of Deposition of Christ in ivory in black frame |70

No. 22. || Image of Nativity of Christ in ivory in black frame |100

No. 23. || Image of Nativity of Christ in marble in black frame |15

No. 24. || Pair of oval glassed images with Christ the Savior and Mary in carved gilded frame |60

No. 26. || Painting with the Story of Herod in carved gilded frame |30

No. 27. || Pair of glassed images with goddesses and Vulcan on the other in carved gilded frame |60

No. 29. || Pair of images with a Swiss man with halberd and a Dutch woman in gilded frame |

Queen’s Study

No. 31. || Painting of Mary sitting under the tree with Saint Joseph in gilded frame |

No. 33. || Pair of glassed images with the Story of Actaeon in tortoiseshell frame set with brass and tin |40

No. 34. || Painting of Assumption of Mary by Bacici in carved gilded frame |100

No. 35. || Painting of Jupiter by Mr Jerzy (Jerzy Siemiginowski-Eleuter) in carved gilded frame |60

No. 37. || Glassed portrait of Queen of France (Anne of Austria) in gilded frame |10

No. 39. || Painting of Abraham and Hagar in gilded frame |130

No. 42. || Painting of Mary on white satin in plant paint in gilded frame |13

No. 44. || Painting of Mary Magdalene lying under the tree on tin plate in gilded frame |25

No. 45. || Painting of Mary looking upwards with Jesus in gilded carved frame |50

No. 46. || Painting of a Capuchin monk with a book, reading, in gilded frame |15

No. 47. || Painting of an old Capuchin monk with a skull contemplating Passion of Christ in gilded frame |10

No. 49. |P.Al:| Miniature glassed painting of decapitation of Saint Margaret in filigree frame set with precious stones |

No. 50. |P.Al:| Miniature glassed painting of Saint John with a lamb in filigree frame set with enamel and precious stones |

No. 53. || Painting of Saint John pointing upwards in filigree frame set with precious stones |

King’s Antechamber

No. 69. || Painting of Christ with the Pharisees by Raphael in gilded frame |150

King’s Bedroom

No. 74. || Portrait of Portuguese rabbi by Rembrandt in black frame |150

No. 75. || Painting of the same dimensions of a Jewish Girl in a beret in black frame |190

No. 76. || Painting of an old Spanish woman in gilded carved frame |30

No. 78. || Bas-relief presented by His Holiness Pope Ottoboni (Alexander VIII) with Saint Ignatius and his companions in smooth metal gilded frame, on lapis and amethyst background, hung on a silk rope with silver knobs |300 

No. 79. || Painting of Passion of Christ on tin plate in pietra dura frame |60

No. 81. || Painting of Saint Anthony resurrecting a child on tin plate in carved frame with gilded copper elements |130

No. 82. || Natural marble image with battle of Amazons in brass frame with marble medallions and silver cherubs |45

No. 83. || Painting of Moses leaving Egypt with his people in bone inlaid frame |300

No. 84. || Painting of Procession Saint Gregory in Rome with a round top in metal gilded frame |130

No. 86. || Pietra dura image with Annunciation, the head of an angel damaged in gilded metal frame |50

No. 87. || Bas-relief pietra dura image with fruit and flowers in a lapis vase in black frame |50

King’s Dutch Study

No. 88. || Pair of Dutch paintings with peacocks, turkeys and hen with chickens on one of them and red kite eating a pigeon, hens and hen with chickens on the other one, both in gilded frame|

No. 89. || Painting with flowers in a glass bowl in carved gilded frame with King’s monogram|80

No. 92. || Painting with Three Kings by Rembrandt in black frame|100

No. 93. || Painting with Abraham and Hagar by Rembrandt in black frame|100

No. 97. || Painting of an old lady reading a book in octagonal black frame|50

No. 103. || 12 images of Chinese Emperors in round black frames |12

No. 104. || Image of man sitting behind bars with a lady in white dress visiting him in black frame |10

No. 105. || Bas-relief wax image of Veraicon (or Saint Veronica) in oval carved and gilded frame |

No. 107. || Ivory image of Rape of Proserpine in black frame | 100

No. 108. || Pair of Chinese images on white satin with gods sitting on storks in a simple wooden frame at the bottom| 8

King’s Chinese Study

No. 113. || Painting of Christ in the Garden by Lavinia Fontana (?) in gilded carved frame| 30

No. 116. || Painting of Christ with Samaritan woman on tin plate in black frame with gilded slat| 60

No. 120. || Painting of Sybil praying to Apollo in gilded frame| 60

No. 122. || Portrait of Helena (Henrietta?), Queen of England in gilded frame| 40

No. 123. || Painting of Neptun and other gods on tin plate in gilded frame| 18

No. 126. || Pair of Chinese images on white satin with a greyhound on one of them and a tiger on the other | 18

No. 127. || Painting with angels holding cross in clouds in gilded frame | 20

No. 128. || Painting of Christ in the Garden on black marble by Anthony van Dyck in gilded frame | 45

No. 129. || 14 miniature images of Chinese Emperors in black round frames | 24

King’s Dressing Room

No. 135. || Dutch painting of a sick lady with a doctor checking the urine and child playing with a dog in leather covered silver plated frame with a gilded slate | 70

No. 136. || Painting of a lady playing clavichord and a servant in third room sweeping in leather covered silver plated frame with a gilded slate | 30

No. 139. || Painting of a lady playing viola da gamba with a female servant playing lute in black frame| 10

No. 140. || Painting with ladies drinking coffee in leather covered gilded frame | 50

No. 141. || Painting with marble pitcher and fruit in leather covered gilded frame | 10

No. 145. || Marble image of a white goddess turned into a tree (Daphne?) in octagonal black frame | 30

Library

No. 148. || 4 paintings representing four continents in separate frames containing 17 small pictures painted on tin plate | 

Upper Treasury with paintings from the Lower Gallery and Library

No. 151. || Dutch landscape painting with people resting under the tree in black frame | 40

No. 152. || Painting of a butler entering the room before a lady in white dress in black frame | 10

No. 156. || Painting of a lady in gold dress playing lute, a girl giving her a letter in black frame | 35

No. 157. || Painting of a lady in white dress with a gentleman putting his leg on her in simple white frame | 35

No. 160. || Painting with a gilded cup, herring on a plate, bread and oysters in black frame | 50

No. 161. || Painting of a Knight of Malta returning from the war, and the other one dancing with a lady in black frame| 15

No. 163. || Pair of paintings with herrings, garlic, onion, white bread and a glass of wine in simple white frame| 80

No. 167. || Painting of three people standing at the sea shore, two sitting and one old man pointing to the sea in black frame | 30

No. 169. || Paintings of old men on wood panel, one of them holding a herring and money without frame |

No. 171. || Straw image with a landscape without frame |

No. 176. || Pair of round paintings on marble with Actaeon and sirens on dolphins in the other one in grey octagonal frames | 30

No. 180. || Painting with a Dutch dwelling with a female cook pouring milk, in gilded copper frame (copy of Vermeer’s Milkmaid?) | 10

No. 187. || Ivory image with Caritas on black velvet in oval carved and gilded frame | 40

No. 188. || Pair of paintings with a girl at the window with a candle and an old lady with a pitcher watering plants in a pot in the other one, both in gilded carved frames | 54

No. 190. || Picture of Mary Magdalene embroidered in silk in gilded frame | 

No. 191. || Pair of pictures in wax on jasper with Andromeda and Phaethon on the other in silver frame |

No. 192. || Glassed picture with a perspective in white wax with two sitting people in black wax in black frame |10

No. 197. || Small painting on tin plate with banquet of King Ahasuerus in black frame |45

No. 198. || Small painting on tin plate with a soldier killing a queen and a city in flames in black frame |19

No. 199. || Small painting with Sodoma in flames and two angels above throwing flames in smooth gilded frame|20

No. 201. || Painting with a Franciscan monk listening to a confession in gilded frame |13

No. 202. || Pair of paintings with a Dutch man killing lice and the other one scratching in his bosom, both in large black frames |20

No. 204. || Painting on wood with Head of Saint John in black frame with gilded elements with turquoise and silver gilded slate |15

No. 207. || Painting on tin plate with different travelers under a rock and a woman with a child on her arms in black frame |

No. 208. || Pietra dura picture with a parrot on a cherry wood in black frame |10

No. 210. || Large painting with an old man by Rembrandt in gilded frame and rounded top |80

No. 214. || Painting with a glassed cupboard with different papers in fir white frame |15

No. 215. || Painting on wood with Venus holding her leg and Cupid, under the tree without a frame |6

No. 221. || Painting of Mary Magdalene with an angel and a skull in gilded frame |60

No. 225. || Pair of new paintings with a Lot standing by a pitcher and a banker counting gold coins on the other, both without frames |16

No. 229. || Painting of Nativity of Christ on black marble in gilded carved frame |15

No. 230. || Ivory picture with a lion hunt on black velvet in black frame |45

No. 230. || Dutch painting with cattle, shepherd on horseback and the other one holding a goat by the horns in black frame |50

No. 238. || Painting with fruit in white porcelain on a small table covered with a red fabric in black frame |4

No. 241. || Painting with a shepherdess on a grey donkey, hunter on horseback with a bird and dogs before her and two traveling Capuchin monks in black frame |90

Paintings in Marywil

No. 252. || Large landscape painting with ruins and people on mules in gilded frame |20

No. 253. || Large painting with a lute and different mathematical instruments, clock and two silver vases in gilded frame |10

No. 259. || Painting with a battle of Turks and Hungarians, with a gentleman on horseback with a sword and a cross hanging on his chest in gilded frame |12

No. 260. || Painting of the same dimensions on canvas with a battle of Turks under a besieged castle and Croats  coming with the rescue in gilded frame |12

No. 261. || Elongated painting (horizontal?) with a farrier nailing on a white horse before a smithy and soldiers returning to the camp in carved gilded frame |10

No. 262. || Elongated painting (horizontal?) with a farrier nailing on a horse before a smithy with more horses while a woman with a child is sitting on the ground in black frame |40

No. 274. || Painting with gypsies by the fire and soldiers playing cards under the tree in black frame with gilded slat |2

No. 276. || Painting with wandering gypsies walking and on wagons, female gypsies with children, kitchen pots and other utensils beside them in black frame |2

No. 277. || Painting in grisaille with Charon and sitting soldiers in black frame |3

No. 278. || Pair of old style paintings with a King and a Queen in black frame |4

No. 280. || Painting on oak panel with a female cook with a pheasant in black frame |8

No. 281. || Large painting with Salvator Mundi |20

No. 286. || Portrait of a man in red costume lined with sable and yellow żupan in black frame |20

No. 287. || Portrait of Queen Eleanor in white dress in a simple frame |20

No. 288. || Portrait of Queen of Sweden in old style costume with a ruff collar in black frame |4

No. 291. || Painting with a painter looking on engravings with a palette and brushes beside him in black frame |8

No. 292. || Painting with a lady sitting by the table with a lute beside her in elongated black frame|5

No. 293. || Painting of half nude Mary Magdalene kneeling before the cross with her hands in prayer in black frame|10

No. 296. || Portrait of Queen of Scotland (Mary Stuart?) on wood in black frame|2

No. 299. || Landscape painting with Dutch cattle and a shepherd leaning on an ox in black frame with double gilded slat|3

No. 300. || Painting with a parrot and a sea cat (northern fur seal?) and chamamilla creature on the tree beside, in black frame with double gilded slat |20

Items in a chest in the Warsaw Treasury

No. 569. |P.Alex.| Tiger leather lined with gold satin |

No. 570. |P.Iacobus.| Tiger skin lined with blue cotton |

No. 571. |P.Const.| Smaller tiger skin lined with orange kindyak |

No. 572. |P.Const.| Large tiger skin, not lined |

No. 573. |P.Iacob.| Small tiger skin, not lined |

No. 574. |P.Alex.| Leopard skin lined with different stripes of velvet with silver and gold twines between, silver and gold crowns in corners, buttons in one end, lined with yellow cotton fabric |

No. 575. |P.Constanti.| Small leopard skin lined with red büründzuk (silk with metal thread fabric from Turkey), paws and tail lined with ocher velvet|

No. 576. |P.Alexander.| Leopard skin lined with different stripes of velvet with silver and gold twine, with crowns embroidered with gold in each corner, buttons in one end, lined with blue cotton fabric |

No. 577. || Skin of a black wolf given to voivode (duke) of Courland.

See also: Table centerpiece with Hercules

See more pictures of Sobieski treasures on Pinterest - Artinpl and Artinplhub

​The set was commissioned by the Empress Dowager Eleonor Gonzaga (1630-1686) in about 1668. The monstrance preserved in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna (inv. no. GS D 25), while candlesticks, together with the smaller monstrance were offered by the Empress to the Jasna Góra Monastery in 1670 on the occasion of the wedding of her daughter, the Archduchess Eleanor Maria Josefa of Austria with King Michael Korybut Wiśniowiecki.

Silver and crystal monstrance set with precious stones by Hans Jakob Mair, ca. 1668, Jasna Góra Treasury.

Silver candlestick set with precious stones by Hans Jakob Mair, ca. 1668, Jasna Góra Treasury.