Miscellanea zabytków złotnictwa w Krakowie. Nieznana monstrancja koralowa w kościele św. Kazimierza-Reformatów w Krakowie

Abstract

MISCELLANEOUS ARTEFACTS OF CRACOW GOLDWORK. AN UNKNOWN MONSTRANCE IN ST CASIMIROS CHURCH OF THE REFORMATI BROTHERS IN CRACOW

Among the historic artefacts manufactured in the second half of the 19th century, the coral monstrance of St. Casimir in the Reformad Church is especially noteworthy. Made of silver, 87.5-cm high, is of a radial type. The glory consists of two circles of beams and is richly decorated with coral, as is the entire monstrance. On its arms are statuettes of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Anthony of Padua; the figure of an angel is set in the centre. The support is with a crowned eagle with a coral in his crown. The inscription says that the monstrance was donated to the Cracow Reformat! by Helena Cierpik from Jamaica. There are also jeweller’s marks ”F.B.” and a hallmark used in Poland until 1932. The inscription does not contain the exact date of the origins of the monstrance. The earliest likely time was the second half of the 19th century, when patriotic symbols were highly topical. The monstrance was manufactured in Cracow. Its iconography clearly indicates that it was made for the Franciscan Church.
The monstrance is stylistically eclectic, specifically Neo-Baroque, but it is significant for other reasons. It is an example of patronage of Polish emigres to America on art, but not only this. Such donations can often be found in southern Poland, usually as goldwork vessels, liturgical robes and clocks. Sometimes funds were transferred to Poland to cover the cost of manufacturing. Often works manufactured in America or Great Britain were transferred to Poland after World War I, and especially after World War II. They have not had a comprehensive research documentation so far, and the phenomenon can be discussed in the context of the relations of Polish emigré community and their homeland.