In this post we present a list of objects related to Polish cultural heritage in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. This listing is based on publicly available information in museum catalogues and the author's independent findings. It is preliminary in nature and further updating and revision is planned.

Our aim is not only to document the presence of these works in the museum's collection, but also - in the future - to expand the database with information on their provenance (origin), exhibition history and detailed artistic analyses.

Due to current copyright regulations, we cannot publish reproductions of most works. However, where possible, we provide links to the official museum catalogue, which includes images or additional information.

Unless otherwise stated, the objects were not on display at the time of publication and were outside the exhibition galleries. It is worth remembering that even works marked 'on display' may have been removed and may be temporarily unavailable.

Every effort is made to ensure that the information presented is reliable and up-to-date. However, the museum's collections are subject to change - if you notice inaccuracies or changes in the status of objects, please contact us.

Ceramics:
Meissen manufactory, cup saucer with the coat of arms of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, ca. 1730, porcelain, 14.9 cm, inv. no. 65.2086

Meissen manufactory, tankard with lid, ca. 1730-1735, porcelain, 14.7 x 12.1 cm, inv. no. 1983.616

Frankenthal manufactory, 'Figure of a Polish girl', ca. 1774, porcelain, 17 cm, inv. no. 96.887, on the base the blue signature of the manufactory and no. 74

Meissen manufactory, plate with the coat of arms of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, 18th century, porcelain, inv. no. 28.289

Meissen manufactory, dish with the coat of arms of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, 18th century, porcelain, inv. no. 28.290

Meissen manufactory, 'Augustus III, King of Poland', con. 18th c. or c. XIX, porcelain, 73.7 × 28 cm, inv. no. 1993.57

Ceramics by Pola Pilin at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The museum's collection includes five vases by the artist. Made between 1960 and 1968, two of them have no representations. The others are decorated with female figures executed in the artist's characteristic style. The colour scheme and the handling of colour bear similarities to the work of Chagall and Byzantine art.

https://collections.mfa.org/advancedsearch/Objects/peopleSearch%3APolia%20Pillin

Polia Pillin, William Pillin, vase, ca. 1960, ceramic, 22.2 x 17.1 cm, inv. no. 2012.1144, signed 'W & P Pillin' on the underside.

Polia Pillin, vase, circa 1960, ceramic, 12.7 x 16.5 cm, inv. no. 2012.1145, signed on the underside "Pillin"

Polia Pillin, vase, 1962-1968, ceramic, 19.7 x 13.3 cm, inv. no. 2016.178, on the underside signature "Pillin"

Polia Pillin, vase, 1962-1968, ceramic, 24.8 x 13.7 cm, inv. no. 2016.179, on the underside signature "Pillin"

Polia Pillin, William Pillin, vase, 1962-1968, ceramic, 25.7 x 16.2 x 7.6 cm, inv. no. 2016.180, on the underside signature "Pillin"

Photograph:
George Waters, 'The Kraszewskis of West Poland', 1951, photograph, 27.2 × 34.7 cm, inv. no. 2024.3477

Elliott Erwitt, "Czestochowa, Poland", 1964, photograph, 20.4 x 25.3 cm, inv. no. 1978.663

Chester Michalik, "Poland (Seated Couple)", 1967, photograph, 25.3 x 16.9 cm, inv. no. 1978.423

Chester Michalik, "Poland", 1967, photograph, 25.3 x 16.9 cm, inv. no. 1978.424

Graphic:
Thomas de Leu, 'Portrait of Henry III, King of France and Poland', c. 1573-1590, print, 15.4 × 10.1 cm, inv. no. M25891

Stefano della Bella, 'Entry of the Polish Ambassador, George Ossolinsky, into Rome', 1633, print, 10.6 × 42 cm, inv. no. P5975

Abraham Bosse, 'The Reading of the Marriage Contract Between Wladislaus IV of Poland and Marie Louise Gonzaga', 1645, engraving, 27.4 × 33.4 cm, inv. no. 30.1061

Claude Mellan, 'Portrait of Louise-Marie Gonzaga, Queen of Poland', 1645, engraving, 35.8 × 24.4 cm, inv. no. P4585

Stefano della Bella, 'A Polish Courtier', c. 1645, engraving, 8.2 × 10 cm, inv. no. 97.1178.5

Stefano della Bella, 'An Old Polish Man', ca. 1645, engraving, 8.2 x 9.9 cm, inv. no. 97.1178.6

Stefano della Bella, 'A Young Polish Boy and a Polish Man', c. 1646, engraving, 2.8 x 8.2 cm, inv. no. P14365.12

Stefano della Bella, 'A Young Polish Lord', c. 1648, engraving, 9 x 6.9 cm, inv. no. 97.1179.6

Stefano della Bella, 'Polish Officers Observing their Troops', 1649, engraving, 9.8 x 15.9 cm, inv. no. M5106

Stefano della Bella, 'A Polish Horseman', c. 1651, engraving, 18.4 x 18.6 cm, inv. no. P14407.3

Stefano della Bella, 'A Polish Horseman', c. 1651, engraving, 18.8 x 18.7 cm, inv. no. P14407.4

Stefano della Bella, 'A Polish Horseman', c. 1651, engraving, 23.8 x 24.3 cm, inv. no. 53.469

Robert Nanteuil, after Justus van Egmont, 'Portrait of Louise-Marie Gonzaga, Queen of Poland', 1653, engraving, 21.5 × 15.9 cm, inv. no. M26501

Ch I. P., 'Abbé Alliot almoner of Stanislao, King of Poland', 1755, engraving, inv. no. M15818

Raphael Morghen, after Domenic Cardelli, "Bust of Stanislas II August, King of Poland", 1786, print, 32.1 x 23.1 cm, inv. no. M1532

Magdalena Abakanowicz, portfolio of six works from the series "Katarsis", 1985, print, 75.7 x 55.5 cm, inv. no. 2022.1136.1 to 2022.1136.10

Włodzimierz Książek, untitled, 1994, print, 75.7 x 56.5 cm, inv. no. 2004.423

Włodzimierz Książek, untitled, 1995, prints, 75.7 x 56.5 cm, inv. no. 2004.424

Włodzimierz Książek, untitled, 1995, print, 69.8 x 52.6 cm, inv. no. 2004.425

Johann Georg Pforr, 'Polish Horses' (Chevaux Polonois), print, inv. no. M10346

John Williams Robbins, 'Polish nobleman with fur cap', print, 18.8 × 14.9 cm, inv. no. M23352

Jean Pierre Norblin de la Gourdaine, '[One of] Heads and full-length figures of Polish types, Nos. Fr. 56, 64, 68, 75a, 76b, 77b, 82a, 83", engraving, inv. no. M19356

Artist unknown, "Ambuscade du Polonais" (Ambush of the Polish Troops?), print, 7.6 × 11 cm, inv. no. 11.45842.38

Jean Joseph Balechou, after Jacques Rigaud, 'Auguste III. King of Poland", engraving, inv. no. M1772

Paul (Paulus) Pontius, after Peter Paul Rubens, "Wladislaw Sigismund, King of Poland", engraving, inv. no. M26872

Jonas Suyderhoef, after Pieter Soutman, "King Wladislaw VI, of Poland", engraving, inv. no. M26913

Johann Hainzelmann, "Johann III (Sobieski) King of Poland", engraving, inv. no. M26808

Laurent Cars, after Carle van Loo, "Maria of Poland", engraving, inv. no. M1787

Martin Bernigeroth, "Augustus II, King of Poland", engraving, inv. no. P16633

Unknown artist, "Casimir, King of Poland", print, inv. no. P17658

Unknown artist, "Casimir, King of Poland", engraving, inv. no. P17659

Numismatics:
Commemorative medal with Wenceslas II, after 1600, copper alloy, inv. no. 29,386

Samuel Ammon, Johann Jacobson, 50 ducats of Sigismund III Vasa, 1621, coin, gold, silver, 6.5 cm, inv. no. 38.1036

Commemorative medal with Stanislaw Leszczynski, after 1766, copper alloy, diameter 43 mm, inv. no. 29.387

Johann Loenhard Oxlein, 'Stanislaw August Poniatowski: Attempted Assasination', 1771, commemorative medal, silver, dia. 4.3 cm, inv. no. 1988.342

Poltina with Catherine II, 1794, coin, silver, inv. no. 01.4738

Commemorative medal with John III Sobieski, 1883, inv. no. 29.591

Glass:
Wine glass, circa 1760, lead glass, 16.4 cm, inv. no. 65.2413

Wine glass, circa 1760, lead glass, 16.4 cm, inv. no. 65.2414

Wine glass, circa 1760, lead glass, 16.4 cm, inv. no. 65.2415

Wine glass, circa 1760, lead glass, 16.4 cm, inv. no. 65.2416

Wine glass, circa 1760, lead glass, 16.4 cm, inv. no. 65.2417

Fabric:
Maker unknown, 'Polonaise carpet', c. 17th century, Persian carpet, 204 x 139 cm, inv. no. 17.603

Unknown artist, shawl with a map of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, 1775, printed cotton fabric, 102.5 x 111.5 cm, inv. no. 50.4038

Maker unknown, textile fragment, 18th century, embroidery, 87 x 47 cm, inv. no. 38.1050, probably from the Polish church

Unknown artist, textile fragment, 18th century, embroidery, 88 x 46 cm, inv. no. 38.1051, probably from the Polish church

Unknown artist, textile fragment, 18th century, embroidery, 50 x 98 cm, inv. no. 38.1052, probably from the Polish church

Maker unknown, textile fragment, 18th century, embroidery, 73 x 26 cm, inv. no. 38.1053, probably from a Polish church

Magdalena Abakanowicz, 'Study of Textures', 1964, fabric, 137.2 × 109.2 × 22.9 cm, inv. no. 2018.7

Barbara Latocha, 'Hanging', 1970, fabric, 71.1 × 165.1 cm, inv. no. 2018.3737

Barbara Falkowska, 'The River', 1975, fabric, 260 × 130 cm, inv. no. 2013.4159

The collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston includes two fabrics by Barbara Latocha. "Hanging" from 1970 is a warmly coloured work depicting a tree with branches and fowl. The second textile was made in 1979 and is entitled 'The Forest'. The forest is depicted through coloured trees.

https://collections.mfa.org/objects/673741/the-forest?ctx=68203090-26f4-49b5-97ae-313717617560&idx=6

In the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, there is a fabric called 'The River' by Barbara Falkowska. Created in 1975, the work was made of hand-dyed wool and sisal. The work is a good example of the so-called Polish School of Artistic Textiles, as can be seen in the varied weaves.

https://collections.mfa.org/objects/586874/the-river?ctx=75deb12d-b3be-422a-a1f2-a61e1eb7ec54&idx=0

Barbara Latocha, 'The Forest' (Forest), 1979, fabric, 180 × 125 cm, inv. no. 2018.3738

Maria Łomnicka-Bujakowa, 'In small flowers', 1984 (?), comb kilim, 213.4 × 151.1 cm, inv. no. 2018.3741

Magdalena Abakanowicz (artystka tekstylna, rzeźbiarka; Polska)(preview), Polia Pillin (ceramiczka; Polska, USA)(preview), Barbara Falkowska (plastyczka, twórczyni tkaniny artystycznej; Polska)(preview), Barbara Latocha (plastyczka, twórczyni tkaniny artystycznej; Polska)(preview), Jonas Suyderhoef (rytownik; Holandia), Laurent Cars (rytownik, projektant; Francja)(preview), Robert Nanteuil (rytownik, grafik, malarz; Francja)(preview), Abraham Bosse (grawer, malarz; Francja)(preview), Stefano della Bella (rytownik; Włochy, Francja), Johann Georg Pforr (malarz, grafik; Niemcy), John Williams Robbins (malarz, grafik; USA), Jean-Pierre Norblin de La Gourdaine (malarz, rysownik, grafik; Polska, Francja), William Pillin (ceramik; USA), Jean-Joseph Balechou (rytownik; Francja), Paulus Pontius (rytownik, malarz; Flamandia), Raffaello Sanzio Morghen (rytownik, grawer; Włochy), Johann Hainzelmann (rytownik; Niemcy), Thomas de Leu (grawer; Francja), Claude Mellan (rysownik, rytownik, malarz; Francja), Elliott Erwitt (fotograf; USA), Chester Michalik (fotograf; USA), Martin Bernigeroth (rytownik; Niemcy), George Waters (fotograf; USA), Samuel Ammon (medalier; Gdańsk), Maria Łomnicka-Bujakowa (twórczyni tkaniny artystycznej; Polska), Johann Loenhard Oxlein (medalier; Niemcy), Włodzimierz Książek (malarz, grafik; Polska, USA)

Bartłomiej Gutowski, Sandra Imko