Rosette from cap of Prince Philip II (1573-1618)

Like the other jewels of this ruler in the collection of the National Museum in Szczecin, the set of thirteen rosettes adorning the brim of Francis I's cap belonged to the Duke's tomb equipment. The discovery in the Szczecin crypt, destroyed in the war bombardments, was made in November 1946, during the demolition of the Pomeranian Dukes' Castle. Only two of the fourteen sarcophagi in the crypt have survived intact. In one of them, belonging to Duke Francis, a complete set of jewellery was discovered, in which the ruler was buried: cap ornaments (an aigrette and 13 rosettes), pendants, bracelets, rings and small ornaments called dress jewels sewn to the clothes. According to the protocol from the opening of the coffin, the Duke's attire was preserved in poor condition, and only the cap, the shoe rosettes fastened with gold rosettes and three fragments of gold lace finishing the garters were preserved. However, we know what the whole outfit in which the Duke was buried looked like from the accounts of the funeral ceremony and from iconographic materials. In the collection of the Collegiate Church in Merseburg, a full-page portrait of Duke Francis I on his marches has been preserved, which - despite its small size - shows in detail the outfit composition, the type of fabrics and the appearance of unique jewellery.The valuables found in Francis I's sarcophagus were first deposited in the safe of the National Bank of Poland, and later for many years, they were transferred to the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw. It was not until 1969 that the jewels were returned to the Szczecin Museum.

Monika Frankowska-Makała