Gilt-leather wall hangings that have been identified in Venice are identical to those that adorn the interiors of Wawel Royal Castle in Kraków (Cracow)

Abstract

Research carried out on the important collection of gilt-leather wall hangings at Wawel Royal Castle leaves a key matter unsolved, namely the exact provenance of the articles. In spite of the practice of repeating designs in works in this branch of craftsmanship, attempts thus far to find analogous pieces in Italy had not garnered positive results. A few indications in primary sources point to a large centre of gilt leather production – Venice. The main subject of this article is the presenta­ tion of identical gilt-leather articles that have been found in Venice, a factor which can be taken as proof of the Venetian provenance of the Kraków collection. The essay provides additional arguments support­ ing this thesis, citing analogous and characteristic features of the gilt- leather wall hangings in Wawel Castle and Venetian collections.