One-door wardrobe withmotif ofbouquets

Wardrobes deriving from urban furniture appeared in the farmhouses in the 18th century, and in some regions, including Western Pomerania, even later, only in the first half of the next century. Initially, only some farmers could afford them. Owning a wardrobe was a sign of wealth and was one of the indicators of social status. Apart from clothing wardrobes, the Pomeranian cottages were also equipped with food cupboards with a distinctive, openwork upper part of the door, later also with standing and hanging corner cupboards. Western Pomerania was a region in which a tradition of rich painted decorations on furniture was developed. They were usually created by the wives and daughters of carpenters. The style of ornaments was influenced both by local aesthetic tastes and inspirations from the colonists. The wardrobe on display coming from the second half of the 19th century shows an example of a beautiful painting ornament. The furniture is made of pine wood and decorated with a floral pattern with one predominant motif of a realistically depicted tulip flower. According to the researchers, this pattern was introduced to Pomeranian decorations by the immigrants of Dutch origin. The tulips decorating the wardrobe are not just a decoration, but also convey a symbolic meaning which is typical for folk art. These flowers, brought to Europe in the 16th century, were associated with abundance and prosperity due to their high price. Both the colours, as well as the flowers’ growth stage can hold some symbolic meanings. The red colour was associated with fertility, while the buds decorating the furniture door could be interpreted as a symbol of the rebirth of life. The wardrobe is one of the items of the rich collection of painted furniture in the collection of the Department of Ethnography of Pomerania of the National Museum in Szczecin. It was purchased by the museum in 1970.

Agnieszka Słowińska