Striving for modernity: The jewellery making in The Second Polish Republic (1918–1939)

Abstract

The article attempts to describe the condition of jewellery making in interwar Poland and to indicate the major problems hampering its development. While discussing the jewellery exhibition at the Polish General Exhibition in 1929, the main trends in the commercial vein, as well as the most important representatives of the industry were indicated. Attention was also paid to the jewellers, whose works might be an example of the search for the Polish Art Déco style. Based on the content published in the domestic trade press, which was the main communication platform for the craftsmen and merchants in Poland, the influence of the world’s leading French industry was highlighted. It was noted that even though the jewellers in Poland faced many difficulties throughout the interwar period, they tried to learn from the experiences of their colleagues from Paris. This applied to issues related to the design and manufacturing of jewellery as well as running businesses. As one of the first devoted to the topic, the paper may serve as reference for further research related to jewellery making in the 1920s and 30s, not merely in Poland, but also in East-Central Europe.