Jewish Crafts: Treasures oin the Collection of the Princes, Czartoryski Museum

The Princes Czartoryski Museum in Krakow is usually known as the home of Leonardo da Vinci`s Lady with an Ermine. However, the collection contains also numerous precious Jewish objects. Judaica from the Czartoryskis Collection were acquired in 19th century, when the collection was managed by Prince Władysław Czartoryski, grandson of the foundress, Princess Izabella Czartoryski, née Fleming. Some of them took a long way from Poland to France and back. After the 1830-31 Polish-Russian War, the collection was evacuated from Puławy (then Russian Poland) to Sieniawa (then Austrian Poland) and settled in Hotel Lambert, Paris. Traces of the voyage can still be seen on the sephardic amulet case, Megilat Ester bound or besamin - they still bore French import stamps from the years 1864 - 93. The Jewish museum objects are already mentioned in the first catallogue of Czartoryski Collection (written in 1869). A silver, gold-plated filigree binding for Megilat Esther was purchased on the brink of 18th and 19th century, we can assume therefore that it was Izabella Czartoryska herself who done it. The binding is made with great precision and it is an example of supreme goldsmith craftsmanship. Austrian tax stamps from 1806/7 point that it was made before that date. Another judaica went to collections in subsequent years: bonnets and "załóżkas" (women`s clothing accessories) in 1882, the Jewish woman dress in 1888, and embroidered collars for Yom Kippur kittel in 1892 . It is therefore the oldest recorded collection of Judaica in Poland.