Cracow jewelry, Krakow nearby, XIX/XX century
This collection is a replica of Krakow's unique coral jewelry, patterned on exhibits at the Ethnographic Museum in Cracow, and gifts to Cracows` churches. They are made of a special alloy, formerly called bakfon (nickelsilver) and hand-engraved. Cracow jewelry is unique and had its own distinctive character, but nowadays has been forgotten and it is extremely difficult to get.Jewish goldsmiths from Kazimierz, as well as their apprentices, would make the jewellery for the peasant classes. They would use basic techniques to make the jewellery – hammering, sawing and soldering. Some of the jewellery would be made to order, other items would be sold at markets and church fairs, especially during the indulgence of Saint Stanislaus at the Skałka church in Kazimierz. Jews would often pawn pieces of jewellery to venal Christians. In his book on Cracovian jewellery, Tadeusz Seweryn writes that the sale of jewellery at church fairs ceased in 1893, and orders at Cracovian jewellers became rare around 1900.
Compiled by Elżbieta Pobiegły www.etnomuzeum.eu
Red coral beads with a cross from Cracow
3 strip corals only: 500zł net (615zł gross)zł-->
Coral beads with hand engraved cross.
Cracows` clasp with coral and garnets.
Cracow`s shirt clasp with coral and garnets. It was used to fasten a shirt at the neck.
Mens Cracow clasp with coral
Mens Cracow clasp with coral, used to fasten a shirt at the neck.
Cracow earrings with coral
Earrings with coral in cracowian style.
Cracow woman rings with corals and garnets.
Cracow woman rings with corals and garnets.
Man ring with corals
Cracow man ring with corals
Highlanders clip
Replica of Highlanders clip for shirt from XVIII/XIX century, made of brass. Performed by autor, based on archival photo.
The clip has an untypical fastening which was replaced by modern safety-pins.
