Tray

An oval tray of red agate set in chiselled and gilded bronze. The structure of the tray consists of 9 big and 16 smaller agate plates set in a frame with radially spread bronze strips bent according to the shape of the tray. In the points where skeleton strips are connected, there are rivets in the form of stylised flowers. The bottom of the tray was given the shape of an octagon, which is repeated by two further extending parts: the part defining the depth of the vessel and the collar. The collar is covered with a decorative openwork frieze in forms of a plant arabesque running around the entire edge. Eight oval agates in the shape of cabochons are fitted into the arabesque. The vessel has eight low feet from the bottom. This very impressive object can be seen in publications concerning the history of the Wilanów mansion, which suggests that it was an important item in the museum exhibition. We can mention, for instance, an album issued in 1877 under the auspices of the then administrator of Wilanów Aleksandra Potocka née Potocka (1818–1892), the wife of the then deceased August Potocki (1806–1867). The aforementioned album by Wojciech Gerson and Hipolit Skimborowicz is entitled Willanów. An Album of Views and Souvenirs... It was (and still is) an exclusive, richly illustrated (using the woodcut technique) publication serving as an invaluable testimony to the former appearance of the palace and the collections kept there. On page 137 of the album, the text contains a fragment that we can associate with the object described here: ‘A tray from eight big agate pieces set in gilded bronze. The edge is adorned with a transparent lace-like cut. A 16th-century product, probably from Italy ...’ The tray as a particularly elaborate product of old craft was also included in an art exhibition held by the Potocki family in their Warsaw palace at Krakowskie Przedmieście in 1856. In the exhibition catalogue entitled ‘The 1856 exhibition of antiquities and art objects held in the Palace of His Excellency Count August Potocki and his wife in Warsaw at Krakowskie Przedmieście for the benefit of the Shelter Home of the Blessed Virgin Mary’, the object is listed under the catalogue number 490.