On 4 December 2015 at 5:00 p.m., the Museum of Ceramics at 14 Kutuzowa Street will host the opening of an exhibition of Christmas nativity scenes. During the event, the results of the ninth edition of the Bolesławiec Mayor’s Competition for the best master’s or doctoral thesis on the history and present-day life of Bolesławiec will be announced.
The “Polish Nativity Scenes” exhibition is divided into two parts. The first presents 13 traditional Kraków nativity scenes. These are impressive, richly decorated nativity scenes inspired by Kraków’s historic architecture. They take the form of multi-towered structures ranging from several dozen centimetres to more than two metres in height. The nativity scenes are decorated with beads, Christmas motifs, patriotic symbols and more. Figurative characters have also been placed inside them. The nativity scenes amaze with their precision and meticulous detail. They attract attention with a riot of colours. All of them are illuminated, giving them an even more distinctive character.
The tradition of making nativity scenes in Kraków dates back to the 19th century. In 1937, a competition for the most beautiful nativity scene was organised for the first time, and it continues to this day.
The second part of the exhibition presents a different type of nativity scene, traditionally associated with Silesia. They generally had simple forms resembling a shepherd’s shelter. The walls were made of wood, less often straw or fibreboard; the nativity scene was covered with a gabled roof, usually topped with a star. Inside was a manger filled with hay. Great importance was attached to the figurines. The individual figures accompanying the birth of Christ were given appropriate clothing and attributes. They were also made of wood, often polychromed, or of clay or plaster. Domestic animals accompanied them.
Opole nativity scenes most often take the form of traditional figurative scenes presented within the tradition of folk religiosity. Notable examples include a triptych-shaped nativity scene and a large architectural, tower-shaped nativity scene with domes.
The exhibits presented at the Museum of Ceramics come from the collections of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków and the Museum of Opole Countryside in Opole. The exhibition will be on display until 15 January 2015. The exhibition is also accompanied by workshops on making Christmas decorations, aimed at preschool children and primary school pupils. To arrange visits for organised groups, please contact us by telephone at 75 644 22 00 or by email at poczta@muzeum.boleslawiec.net.
Participation in the classes and admission to the exhibition are free for children and young people. Adult ticket prices: regular – PLN 4, reduced – PLN 2.
Museum of Ceramics/ii