Porcelain

Porcelain

The display case to the left contains porcelain from the Radziwiłł estates in Berlin, Nieborów and Olyka.
On the upper shelf are pieces from a Berlin service from the Royal Porcelain Factory, dating back to the early 19th century. The characteristic ornamental gilding, usually floral or antique-inspired, was fashionable and popular during the Biedermeier period and was often an important addition to the colour ornaments. The Berlin factory had a catalogue of many designs, which could be picked freely by customers.

The lower shelf holds German porcelain from Meissen, Europe's oldest porcelain factory, founded in 1708 by Augustus II the Strong. Particularly notable among the wares are the richly-decorated soup tureen and the verriere - a vessel used for cooling glasses. The porcelain on display dates back to the mid-19th century.

The display case to the right holds the historically and artistically invaluable “Memorial Book” of Balice. Bound in carmine leather and embossed with the inscription “Balice”, this elegant album (the three surviving volumes) provides a wonderful chronological record of visitors to the Radziwiłł estate in Balice near Krakow.

In 1887, Prince Dominik Radziwiłł, who lived with his wife Dolores de Agramonte in Paris, purchased the palace in the village of Balice from the Hungarian Homolacs family. Thus started the most colourful, albeit tragically ended, chapter in the history of these estates. The Radziwiłl family intended to turn the suburban villa into a family home combining modernity with old Polish tradition and a dignified reference to their ancestral seats. The end of the golden age for Balice came shortly after the start of hostilities in 1939. The Germans took over the palace, but allowed the Radziwiłł family to live in the outbuilding. Throughout the occupation, Prince Hieronim, son of Dominik and Dolores, was involved in clandestine activities. He supported the Home Army financially, provided food, employed many people in hiding who needed help, and offered cash and food aid to the poorest.

In August 1944, anticipating the worst, he prudently decided to remove the most valuable objects from the palace and deposit them in Kraków's Princes Czartoryski Museum.

On the mirror above the display case are archive photographs of the Radziwiłł family from Balice and prints of the most interesting pages from the Balice Memorial Book.