Royal Casket

The Royal Casket (Polish: "Szkatuła Królewska") was a memorial created in 1800 by Izabela Czartoryska. The large wooden casket contained 73 precious relics [http://www.ookz.com.pl/cenne/art.php?dz=1&id=1998-02-04 valuable, priceless, lost] ] that had once belonged to Polish royalty. The casket was inscribed: "Polish mementos assembled in 1800 by Izabela Czartoryska." The casket reposed in the Temple of the Sibyl at Puławy. [http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=15225035 CAT.INIST] ]

Contents

The relics contained in the casket included:
* Portrait of Quenn Constance of Austria in a silver dress made by King Sigismund III Vasa
* Silver rosary of Queen Maria Leszczyńska
* Ivory box in a silver gilded frame of King Jan III Sobieski
* Gold watch of Queen Maria Kazimiera
* Gold snuff-box decorated with diamonds and the enamel miniature of King Stanisław August Poniatowski
* Gold watch of King August II
* Gold emaneled chain of King John II Casimir
* Pectoral Cross of King Sigismund the Old made of red jasper in a gold frame with a gold chain
* Silver filigree cutlery of Prince Zygmunt Kazimierz
* Crystal watch in a gold frame of King Sigismund III Vasa
* Gold watch of King Stanisław Leszczyński
* Gold emaneled pendant with "A" monogram and a gold chain of Anna Jagiellon
* Gold filigree chain of Queen Ludwika Maria Gonzaga etc. [ [http://www.mkidn.gov.pl/kolekcje/en/tytul.php Department of National Heritage, Wartime losses] Catalogue recording some of the items (58) - enter the title "Royal Casket"]

The Casket survived all the confiscations after the collapses of the Polish national uprisings, because it was moved to Kraków.

When the World War II broke out it was transported together with the rich collection of the Czartoryski Museum to Sieniawa and hidden in a shelter in the palace's outbuilding, which was later bricked up. Unfortunately the German owner of the neighbouring mill who worked for the Czartoryski family betrayed the hiding-place to the Wehrmacht soldiers who entered Sieniawa on September 14, 1939. The soldiers broke into the palace and plundered the collection. They robbed the Royal Casket and distributed its contents amongst themselves. All precious items were probably destroyed.

Literature

* [http://www.ookz.com.pl/cenne/art.php?dz=1&id=1998-02-04 valuable, priceless, lost]

References

ee also

* Polish Crown Jewels
* Czartoryski Museum
* Polish culture during World War II
* Nazi plunder

External links

* [http://www.mkidn.gov.pl/kolekcje/en/ Department of National Heritage, Wartime losses]
* [http://www.eksplorator.com/1szkatula.htm Tajemnica Szkatuły Królewskiej]