THE TREASURE OF SRODA SLASKA

On the 24th of May 1988 the scoop of an excavator working by demolition of a house on the territory of medieval centre of Sroda Slaska broke the container with silver and golden coins. So the history of finding one of the most extra ordinarymedieval treasures not only in Poland but also in Europe began. After few days the first golden pieces of jewellery were found on the suburban scrap-heap, where rubble from other excavations in the town was stored. Till the end of 1988 the parts of the treasure were regained from chance finders and archaeological excavations were run. The result was that there were gathered: 8 parts of a crown topped by 7 eagles and buckled by 6 bodkins with fleurons a circular fibula with cameo, a pair of pendants decorated on both sides, a pair of pendants decorated on one side, a bracelet (?), 3 decorated rings, a narrow band from golden metal sheet and over 4000 silver and 38 golden coins. In 1995 all jewels were preserved (and partially reconstructed) in the preservation studio of National Museum in Cracow. The pendants (ear-rings?) decorated on both sides are the oldest in the whole set. They are decorated on obverse and reverse sides with filigree, set with garnets, sapphires and pearls. Semi-lunar laps with engraved decoration and use of enamel were added later on obverse sides. There are pressed laps in the form of stylised palmette surrounded by 3 lions on reverese sides. Large dimension (63x66 mm) and weigh (41-42 g) of the jewels prove their use as pendants for female head dresses (coifs, head - bands etc). This kind of circular pendants were often used on the territory of Bizantium and on the territories under the influence of Bizantium art. Goldsmith's analogies can point the Sicily as the place where the pendants were made, most probably in the 12th century. The second pair of pendants (ear-rings?) smaller (60,5x62,5 mm) and decorated only on one side, has the form similar to the one described above. On the obverse side, set with Chech garnets, the filigree in the form of scrolls is less precise that on the bigger pendants. The bracelet (?) with nodules almost identical with pendant's ending and with a figure of a bird (eagle, falcon?) on the buckle probably comes from the same atelier. Both items - smaller pendants and bracelet (?) - were probably made in Hungary in the 2. half of the 13th century. One of the most interesting parts of the treasure is the circular (diameter 129.3 mm) fibula with cameo cut in blue chalcedony, set with garnets, emeralds sapphires and pearls (22 precious stones are missing). Fibulas were used to brace ceremonial court coats or liturgical mantles on breast or arms. They had various forms (but the circular ones were most frequent) and were richly set with precious stones. The fibula of Sroda Slaska is the biggest one among all known fibulas of the hooped kind. It was probably made in Italy, in the goldsmith's circle of Stauf's court, in the 2, half of the 13th centuary. Its central element - cameo with the image of an eagle in aquila vitrix kind - was probably made in Sicilian goldsmith's atelier about 1240. The golden crown with eagles-exceptional one, of no analogies with other medieval crowns - is the latest of alll jewels found in Sroda Slaska. It belongs to the group of short segmental crowns with fleurons formed in the 13th century. Trapezoid lower segments made of double tin plates (hachured and ornamental with open - work front side - opus interrasile) are topped by eagles with rings in their beaks and joined bodkins with fleurons. The crown was originally decorated by 193 precious stones: garnets, spinels, sapphires, emeralds, aquamarines, pearls and plaquette of cellular and fluted enamel in gold (so called de plique). The structure of segments decoration is based on alternation rule. This goldsmith masterpiece was probably made in Paris centre in the beginning of the 14th century, what can be proved by the analogies with French goldsmith. One can also take into account Prague court, where French and Italian goldsmiths worked. The crown was surely a female ceremonial jewel, probably made because of the wedding. The jewels made in the 1. half of the 14th century are a ring with a sapphire (Chech ?) and a band for decorating covers of reliquaries, books and jewal-cases (Prague). The ring with dragon's heads supporting the case (the stone is missing) dates back to the 2. half of the 13th century. It is probable that the coins were also hidden with the jewels (the 2. half of the 13th c. and the 1. half of the 14th c.). The biggest group consists of silver Prague pennies of John of Luxembourg (3824 pieces) and of Waclaw II (98 pieces). Meissen penny of Fredrich II and Wroclaw heller of John of Luxembourg. Golden coins are : ducat of Francesco Dandolo (Venice) and florins of Waclaw I of Legnica (Silesia), Albrecht II (Austria), Eules IV (Burgundia), John of Luxembourg (Chech, 2 pieces, Florence, 9 pieces), Guigues VIII (dauphin of Viennois), Carl Robert and Louis I the great (Hungary). One of many mysteries connected with the jewels and coins found in Sroda Slaska is the basic question: who does the treasure belong to? and when was it hidden? Many data proves that the jewels could come from the Chech treasure from the times of Luxembourg dynasty and they constituted the security for money loan raised by Carl IV (1346 - 1378) from Jews of Sroda. The Wroclaw duchy, where Sroda Slaska was situated, was taken over by John of Luxembourg in virtue of a law of succesion in 1335. Sroda, trade centre of big importance, was specially connected with Prague court by person of John from Sroda, secretary, and later chancellor of Carl IV. Royal deposid was probably hidden during persecution of Jews in the period of pest called black death, which came to Silesia in the middle of the 14th century.