Laundry room

The wardrobe was part of the furnishings of a private apartment of Janina Szczerska (born on 22 October 1897 in Stryj, died on 10 July 1981 in Szczecin) –  teacher and founder of the first Polish secondary school in post-war Szczecin (later renamed High School no. 1) and its headmistress in 1946-1951 and 1959-1966. This piece of furniture, together with other personal effects, was donated to the collection of the National Museum in Szczecin on the basis of a bequest made on 1 September 1976. Wardrobes of this kind were manufactured from the 18th century onwards to be used as bedroom furniture. Originally used for storing personal underwear, over time they became increasingly used for storing tablecloths, napkins and even bed sheets. They were often placed in interiors due to their size. They were quite capacious, but smaller than wardrobes, making them a perfect choice even for smaller flats. They were often ornamented – as such, they decorated the room, while showcasing the prestige of the reidents.

Anna Lew-Machniak