Knitting table

A knitting table, commonly referred to as a niciak, used to stand in a private apartment of Janina Szczerska (born on 22 October 1897 in Stryj, died on 10 July 1981 in Szczecin) – teacher and later director of the High School no. 1 in Szczecin, pioneer of Szczecin. The piece of furniture was donated to the National Museum in Szczecin in a will drafted on 1 September 1976. The table was probably designed at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries in England; however, it took until the Biedermeier period in the 19th century until they became particularly popular. Designed mainly for salons and rooms occupied by women – the so-called boudoirs, they were extremely decorative, making for a great decoration of city homes, as well as for a great piece of functional furniture that could be moved to other rooms. One of the most characteristic elements of the table is its decorative tabletop installed on hinges, as well as a drawer or drawers with compartments for sewing utensils, so that women working on embroidery or crocheting had all the necessary tools within reach. Sometimes the table was also used as a game or writing table, which showcased how exclusive they actually were.

Anna Lew-Machniak