Press

The tin-plated potato press was made at the beginning of the 20th century and comes from the Potocki family collection. The press consists of two movable parts connected by a rod, forming a kind of lever (hinge). The lower part in the shape of a flattened triangle with perforated longer sides passes into a handle in the form of two flared rods with rounded edges and a decorative end with a hole for hanging. The upper part, consisting of a crushing element (slightly convex), is connected to the handle by two triangular flat bars. The kitchen is not just a place where food is prepared, but the “heart of the home” where everyone meets, exchanges comments, and ideas. In rich houses, manors and palaces kitchens were comprehensively equipped not only with various kinds of hearths, ovens (oven for bread, cakes, meat, spit), but also accessories such as pots, pans, and saucepans. In wealthy homes, there were several kitchens with specialised functions and often a separate room for making coffee. Kitchen equipment included various (often richly decorated) vessels for preparing various dishes such as fish tubs, saucepans, cauldrons, kettles, and richly decorated moulds for puddings, cakes (cake moulds) and jellies, as well as cleavers for separating meat, e.g. decorated with silhouettes of animals or their heads. Every kitchen needed a potato press, which was essential for the preparation of various types of noodles and is still used today despite the invention of various types of food processors. This press is exhibited in the eastern corridor of the second floor of the castle among the kitchen utensils – remnants of the castle kitchens, which have not been preserved.