Knyszyński ośrodek garncarski XVI-XVIII na tle innych cechów garncarskich Podlasia

Abstract

In 1580 in towns of Podlasie, 57 potter's workshops, which were taxed, were active. In 1799 in the north part of the region, 157 craftsmen of pottery branch - potters and glaziers were counted. Information on potter's guilds functioning is rare: Miedzyrzec Podlaski (1556, after 1691, 1729, 1728, 1802), Węgrów (befor 1592), Orla (1783), Siemiatycze (1st half of the 18th century), Ciechanowiec ()1775, Białystok (1759), Kleszczele (before 1797). Most frequently, potter's guilds existed in towns where lordly and magnate's seats were situated. The exception was royal Knyszyn. Masters produced here tiles and vessels patterned upon products "copied" from the Knyszyn royal residence. It is testified by artifacts, which were found there. Pottery model-making was extremely traditional and older forms came down in the guild as journeyman's masterpieces. After the fire of Knyszyn in 1567, King Sigmund August gave a new foundation immunity to the town in 1568 with fire-fighting articles that obliged to the use of pottery tiles and brick chimneys. From these times, a statute of potter's guild confirmed after 1589 by Marcin Żydek, an officer of a group of villages (in the years 1557-1572 a lackey in service with king Sigmund August). The statute was confirmed by the town council in 1606 and kings Sigmund III (1606) and Stanisław August (1765). A context of functioning of the pottery centre in Knyszyn was important. There, till the end of the 14th century a royal residence existed, previously called Wodziłówka and then Knyszyn Court, enlarged for King Sigmund August who often stayed there and there died (1553-1572 22 stays: 495 days). In the equipment of the court, stoves drew attention; in their building and preservation, undoubtedly local potters took part. Northern Podlasie was filled with people of Renaissance connected with the monarch and his court. Among people closely engaged in the building and preservation of the residence and stable of Knyszyn as well as the fortress of Tykocin also foreigners were present: the Italian, Portuguese, Dutch and people from Moscow. In 1984 the author together with an archaeologist H. Karwowska carried out sondage archaeological research in Bialostocka Street in Knyszyn. The area for 200 years was occupied by townspeople's parcels. The most interesting discovery was made on the area of a property at 57 Bialostocka Street where two stove hearths with fragments of Renaissance tiles and clay vessels were found. According to a description from 1564 in this place, there was royal Great Old House.