Medieval Sacrarium from Bolków Castle?

Hanna Golasz-Szołomicka, Aleksandra Wolniak

doi:10.37190/arc250403

Abstract

The aim of this article was to present research results concerning the original function and form of a stone baldachin located in the lapidarium of Bolków Castle. These investigations are crucial for determining whether a chapel existed at the castle during the Middle Ages, as suggested by the presence of numerous masonry relics of sacred character.

Through comparative analysis with other preserved examples of sacraria and baldachins from Silesia and neighboring regions, the authors proposed a reconstruction of the object’s original form and identified its probable liturgical function.

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Hanna Golasz-Szołomicka*, Aleksandra Wolniak**

Medieval Sacrarium from Bolków Castle?

DOI: 10.37190/arc250403

Published in open access. CC BY NC ND license

Abstract

The article aims to present the results of research on the original function and form of the stone canopy located in the lapidarium of Bolków Castle.

These studies are crucial for determining whether a chapel existed in the castle during the Middle Ages, as suggested by the presence of numerous

stone relics of a sacred nature. To establish the original role of the canopy, a detailed inventory was conducted using photogrammetry, which also

included other stone elements deposited in the lapidarium, among them details of a sacral character. Additionally, comparative analyses were carried

out on medieval sacraria and lanterns of the dead from Silesia and neighbouring regions.

Key words: Bolków Castle, canopy, sacrarium, tower sacrarium

Introduction

In July 2023 and August 2024, as part of workshops or -

ganised by the ArcHist Student Research Group of the Fa-

culty of Architecture at Wrocław University of Science and

Technology, detailed studies were carried out on Bolków

Castle, located in the Jawor district of Lower Silesia. The

work included a comprehensive survey of the castle and

of the architectural details collected in its lapidarium. As

part of the research, a conceptual design for extending the

tourist route was also developed, along with an analysis of

the chronology of the castle’s construction and architectur-

al transformations based on orthophotos of the walls. The

main goal was to determine the original function of the

stone canopy located in the lapidarium, which may pro-

vide signicant evidence for the existence of a castle chapel

during the Middle Ages. This hypothesis is supported by the

presence of numerous medieval stonework elements, such

as window frames with glazing grooves, proled portals,

sandstone bases, a fragment of a half-octagonal shaft, and

a vault rib. The results of the research may signicantly ex-

pand our understanding of the architectural history of the

castle and its functions over the centuries.

State of research

The state of research on the discussed structure has been

presented based on a number of studies, the earliest of which

– Vaterländische Bilder by Karl August Müller – dates back

to 1837. Next, the inventory compiled by Hans Lutsch, Die

Kunstdenkmäler des Reg.-Bezirks Liegnitz (1891), should be

mentioned. Although imprecise in some details, it provides

information on certain elements of architectural decoration

that no longer survive today (1891, 351–353). Another im-

portant source is Heinrich Schubert’s Geschichte der Bol-

koburg bei Bolkenhain from 1895. This publication stands

out for its references to archival materials – both those still

preserved and those lost after World War II – and it also in-

cludes a chronological list of the castle’s owners and admin-

istrators. In 1903, Lutsch published Textband zum Bildwerk

Schlesischer Kunstdenkmäler, which contains an inventory

of the castle, including the now-lost sgrato decoration on

the gate. In 1911, Benjamin G. Steig and Alfred Teichmann

compiled the Chronik der Stadt Bolkenhain. The next study,

Burg Bolkenhain by Peter Lutterotti (1928), presents the re-

constructions carried out up to the 18

th

century (1928, 95).

In 1931, Adolf Schaube published Jakob Paar von Mailand,

a work concerning Silesian Renaissance architecture. In 1939,

* ORCID: 0000-0002-1125-6162. Faculty of Architecture, Wro-

cław University of Science and Technology, Poland, e-mail: hanna.go-

lasz-szolomicka@pwr.edu.pl

** ORCID: 0009-0000-2003-4417. Archikon. Architecture Studio

Anna Kościuk, Poland.

26

Hanna Golasz-Szołomicka, Aleksandra Wolniak

two studies appeared: Bodo Ebhardt’s Der Wehrbau Europas

im Mittelalter, which includes a plan and description of the

castle (1939, 471, 475), and Walter Rohkohl’s Bolken hain

in Deutsches Städtebuch, containing a short chapter de

vot-

ed to the history of the town (1939, 709, 710). After World

War II, the subject was taken up by Bohdan Guerquin in his

encyclopedia of Silesian castles (1957, 35–37). A year later,

Kurt Tillmann published Lexikon der deutschen Burgen und

Schlösser, in which he updated previous knowledge and en-

riched it with an analytical survey of the castle (1958, 104).

The most comprehensive treatment of the topic appeared in

Olgierd Czerner’s doctoral dissertation from 1963. His re-

search covered a wide scope – it provided a detailed descrip-

tion of the castle and the stages of its development, compared

the complex to similar castles, and presented architectural

details found at the site that had not been previously record-

ed. Since then, the research has not been continued, and the

topic remained closed for the following decades.

Description of the author’s research

Research methodology

In order to determine the original function of the stone

canopy, an inventory of the object and its surroundings

was carried out. The base of the canopy, measuring 67 ×

67 cm, suggests that it once covered a small structure such

as a shrine, sacrarium, or lantern of the dead. The research

began with detailed documentation of the monument using

photogrammetry, which made it possible to create a precise

digital model. The inventory included not only the canopy

itself but also stone elements located in the castle lapidar-

ium. The next stage was a comparative analysis encom-

passing medieval sacraria and lanterns of the dead from

the region of Silesia and neighbouring lands. This research

allowed for a comparison of the forms, stylistic details, and

functions of analogous objects.

Sacral architectural details

from the Lapidarium of Bolków Castle

In the chapter of his work titled Loose Architectural De-

tails (1963), Czerner describes that during the castle’s re-

search, most of the stone architectural elements from vari-

ous periods were gathered in the eastern corner of courtyard

“II”, at the foot of the museum building. The preserved frag-

ments include parts of two portals (A, B), a window jamb,

a cornice, a square slab, and a proled shaft (Figs. 1–5).

Two examples of the portal A detail and the proled shaft

have survived. The portals were made of pink porphyry. The

stone block from portal A is characterised by a symmetrical

arrangement with a pear-shaped moulding featuring a sharp

ridge and two concave hollows on either side of the mould-

ing (Fig. 1). The author identies it as a component of an

early Gothic stepped portal, reminiscent of the southern

por tal of the church in Pogwizdów. From portal B, a block

de co rated with two mouldings and two concave hollows

has been preserved. The mouldings have circular cross-sec-

tions of dierent diameters, with the larger one having a at

pro jection. Additionally, it was observed that the stone has

a wide rebate intended for a door or gate.

Another preserved element is a fragment of the frame of

a large 13

th

-century window opening, made of coarse-grained

sandstone (Fig. 2). It consists of two rounded mouldings with

concave recesses along the jambs, as well as an opening for

stained glass.

A square slab made of dark greenish sandstone, measuring

67 × 67 cm and characterised by a Gothic prole, has also

Fig. 1. Cross-sections of

the preserved portal fragments

most likely originating from

the castle chapel

(drawings by A. Wolniak,

photos by H. Golasz-Szołomicka)

Il. 1. Przekroje zachowanych

fragmentów portali pochodzących

najprawdopodobniej z kaplicy

zamkowej

(rys. A. Wolniak,

fot. H. Golasz-Szołomicka)

Medieval Sacrarium from Bolków Castle?

27

been preserved (Fig. 3). It has been identied as the base of

a sacrarium or the so-called lantern of the dead. Associated

with it is a proled shaft with a rectangular cross-section

(Fig. 4), decorated with a trefoil motif. Traces of an iron grille

and fragments of blue polychromy have been preserved on

the shaft (Fig. 4).

This raises the question of whether the discovered ele-

ments originated from Bolków Castle itself or were brought

there later, since they were not mentioned in any other schol-

arly study prior to 1963. To explore this issue, the recov-

ered details were compared with those found in the parish

church in Bolków. It was determined that they are similar in

size, prole shape, and material to the details of St Hedwig’s

Church, located at the foot of the castle hill.

The church was built in 1250 on a cruciform plan, with

a two-bay presbytery and a nave of similar size, as well as

a three-bay transept (Kozaczewski, Kozaczewska-Golasz

2009, 113–115). The transept of the building can be divid-

ed into phases, marked by three keystones featuring gural

representations referring to the reign of Henry the Bearded

(Czerner 1963). The castle’s plinth shows similarities to

that of the church’s northern and partly eastern wall, while

the detail from portal A resembles the prole of the main

en trance portal located in the church’s western façade. Ac-

cord ing to Hanna Kozaczewska-Golasz (2009), the portal is

dated to the fourth quarter of the 13

th

century.

During the workshop, fragments of stonework stored in

the lapidarium were analysed. It was found that the con-

Fig. 2. The cross-section

of a preserved window jamb

from the 13

th

century most

likely originating from

the castle chapel

(drawing by A. Wolniak,

photo by H. Golasz-Szołomicka)

Il. 2. Przekrój zachowanego

ciosu obramienia okna

z XIII w. pochodzącego

najprawdopodobniej z kaplicy

zamkowej (rys. A. Wolniak,

fot. H. Golasz-Szołomicka)

Fig. 3. The sacrarium base

(source: Czerner 1963,

drawing by A. Wolniak,

photo by O. Czerner)

Il. 3. Podstawa sakrarium

(źródło: Czerner 1963,

rys. A. Wolniak, fot. O. Czerner)

28

Hanna Golasz-Szołomicka, Aleksandra Wolniak

Fig. 4. The sacrarium shaft

and detail drawing

(source: Czerner 1963,

drawing by A. Wolniak,

photo by O. Czerner)

Il. 4. Laska sakrarium

i rysunek detalu

(źródło: Czerner 1963,

rys. A. Wolniak, fot. O. Czerner)

Fig. 5. A fragment of the lower

base of the sacrarium

(drawing by A. Wolniak,

photo by H. Golasz-Szołomicka)

Il. 5. Fragment podstawy

dolnej bazy sakrarium

(rys. A. Wolniak,

fot. H. Golasz-Szołomicka)

Medieval Sacrarium from Bolków Castle?

29

dition of the stone elements described in the dissertation

from the 1960s had changed. The base and two fragments

of columns with decorative polychromy have gone miss-

ing. Among the new or previously unrecognised elements,

a canopy was identied (Fig. 6). This element is currently

preserved and was thoroughly inventoried during the work-

shop. A question arose: is it possible that some of the ele-

ments currently located at the castle could form a complete

structure together with those no longer preserved but thor-

oughly documented in Czerner’s study?

The stone canopy, made of dark greenish sandstone, bears

clear traces of structural continuity, such as holes left by iron

pins that once secured the shafts supporting the struc ture. To

describe the object in detail, it was divided into in di vi dual

views (marked alphabetically in the drawings).

View A shows the underside of the canopy, which has

a nearly square shape with sides measuring 67 cm and two

axes of symmetry intersecting at the centre (nos. 1 and 2).

In each corner, a clear trace of the shafts that once sup-

ported the structure can be seen. When compared with

the cross-section drawings of the shafts documented by

Czerner, it was noted that these elements correspond ex-

actly. The most distinct trace of a shaft cross-section is lo-

cated in the lower left corner. In each of these traces, a hole

left by an iron pin running through the centre is clearly

visible. From each shaft, ribs of a ribbed vault extend and

meet at a central keystone. Along the sides, connecting the

shafts, runs a prole of pointed arches in the form of ogees,

visible in Views B, C, D, and E as three mouldings of vary-

ing diameters, the central one being the widest. Shallow

concave grooves can be observed between the mouldings.

Behind the arch prole, near the canopy’s edge on three

sides, four rectangular recesses left by an iron grille are

visible. Identical traces also appear in Czerner’s doctoral

drawings of the shaft.

View B shows the side of the canopy – with an arcade

in the form of an ogee arch decorated with crockets and

topped with a nial. At the top of the view, starting at about

three-quarters of the canopy’s height, an expansion of the

corners can be observed.

View C shows the side of the canopy, similar to View B;

it presents sculptural decoration with an arcade in the form

of an ogee arch decorated with crockets and topped with

a nial along axis 2. On the left side of the view, along the

axis of the shaft, a recessed frame for decoration runs up

to about three-quarters of the canopy’s height. The upper

corners are not expanded.

View D shows the side of the canopy. It contains a point-

ed arch with an arcade in the form of an ogee arch decorated

with crockets and topped with a nial. As in View C, there

is a frame for decorative detail. An expansion of the upper

right corner was also observed.

The last side view, E, also with a pointed arch, does not

feature a distinct ogee arch or sculptural decoration. On

both sides, long vertical grooves and smaller recesses are

visible, suggesting that this side of the canopy was adjacent

to a wall.

View F shows the upper part of the canopy. It has a sym-

metrical form, with slight deviations, particularly in the

lower right corner. Each side features slanted projections at

the extensions of the shafts and sculptural decoration along

the symmetry axis of each side.

Ciboria, sacraria and lanterns of the dead

Before attempting a reconstruction of the sacrarium, it

was advisable to conduct comparative research in order to

become acquainted with examples of similar objects found

in Silesia and neighbouring regions, as well as to understand

their function.

Fig. 6. The rediscovered sacrarium canopy

(drawings by A. Wolniak, photo by H. Golasz-Szołomicka)

Il. 6. Odnaleziony baldachim sakrarium

(oprac. rys. A. Wolniak, fot. H. Golasz-Szołomicka)

30

Hanna Golasz-Szołomicka, Aleksandra Wolniak

Selected late Gothic sacraria in Silesia were presented by

Hans Lutsch (1903, 2001). Erika Baare-Schmidt (1937) de-

scribed the types of Gothic tabernacles in various regions of

Germany, and in more detail the late Gothic so-called sac-

rament houses, that is, tower-like forms. Although the au-

thor emphasised that a tabernacle is a place for storing the

Eucharist, she also used this term to refer to various types

of sacramental chapels, altar pyxes, choir stalls, and al -

tar

ca binets. Achim Timmermann (2005) discussed selected

15

th

-century sacrament houses from the territories of Bel-

gium, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland. The history and types

of tabernacles in Poland, as well as the meanings of the terms

used, were presented by Antoni Rafałko (1982). Janusz Gręź-

li kowski (2012) described the development of the taberna-

cle in relation to the norms and statutes of various synods

throughout history. Agnieszka Woś-Jucker (2005), in addi-

tion to presenting the types of sacraria, focused on terminol-

ogy, explaining its various meanings over the centuries and

the corresponding terms used in foreign-language literature.

In the literature, the place where the Eucharist is kept is

referred to interchangeably as a ciborium, tabernacle, sacra-

mentarium, or sacrarium. Their etymology was discussed by

Rafałko (1982), Woś-Jucker (2005), and Bogusław Nadolski

(2006). After analysing the literature, the authors of the pres-

ent text apply the following terminology: ciborium – a can-

opy over an altar or tomb (Kozakiewicz 1969, 73; Rafałko

1982, 203; Woś-Jucker 2005, 132, 133; Nadolski 2006,

280, 281), tabernacle – an altar cabinet (Kozakiewicz 1969,

344; Rafałko 1982, 203; Woś-Jucker 2005, 134; Nadolski

2006, 1554) or a structure in which the vessels containing

the Eucharist are stored (Rafałko 1982, 203), sacramentari-

um – a liturgical book (Jougan 1992, 508; Woś-Jucker 2005,

137; Nadolski 2006, 1434), sacrarium – a place of storage

(Rafałko 1982, 203; Jougan 1992, 508; Woś-Jucker 2005,

136–138).

In the Catholic Church after 313 AD, the Eucharist was

kept in sacristies, in wall niches known as wall sacraria, or

on altars. In Poland, sacraria located in sacristies were still in

use in the 16

th

century, and in Silesia even into the 17

th

centu-

ry (Gręźlikowski 2012; Rafałko 1982). At the turn of the 12

th

and 13

th

centuries, with changes in the liturgy, the sacrarium

was moved to the presbytery, taking the form of a wall niche

closed with doors or a grille, with both doors and a grille

(in northern Poland), or with a grille alone (in Silesia; Woś-

Jucker 2005). The preserved niches took on simple forms

or were topped with a trefoil arch (Grodków, parish church,

13

th

century; Rafałko 1982), with a rounded arch and a gab-

let (Wrocław, Church of St Adalbert, 1295–1330)

1

(Fig. 7).

Over time, the niche was tted with a box that could be

pulled out beyond the wall face and supported by a pillar.

In this way, a tower-shaped sacrarium was created – the so-

called Eucharistic house.

In Poland, from the 15

th

to the mid-16

th

century (Rafałko

1982

2

), tower-shaped sacrament houses were also built – ei-

1

In some churches, two sacrament houses have been preserved,

which may have been used to store the Eucharist and the holy oils

(source: www.wroclaw.dominikanie.pl).

2

Rafałko lists documented sacrament houses dated to the 15

th

cen-

tury. However, Lutsch dates the sacrament house in Świebodzice to the

ther attached to walls or pillars, or as free-standing struc-

tures – on square or polygonal plans. They were topped

with tall spires reecting the ground plan of the structure.

In Świebodzice (Church of St Francis, 1352; Lutsch 2001),

a sacrament house was erected on a plan of a half-hexagon,

decorated with tracery and a grille with rosettes, and covered

with a roof featuring gables (wimpergs). In Lubin (Parish

Church of Our Lady of Częstochowa, 15

th

c.; Lutsch 2001),

Śmiałowice (15

th

c.; Pilch 2011), Małujowice (Church of

St James, 1511; Lutsch 2001), Bolesławiec (Church of St

Hedwig, 1515; Lutsch 2001), Wrocław (Church of St Mary

Magdalene, 1410; Pilch 2011; or 1375–1380; Timmermann

2005), and in Brennik (1521), sacrament houses were built

in the form of rectangular cabinets decorated with grilles on

three sides. In Gościszów (Parish Church of Our Lady and

St John the Baptist), a late Gothic sacrament house (Pilch

2011) has been preserved, designed on a triangular plan (set

diagonally in relation to the eastern wall of the chancel), dec-

orated with a canopy arch and a pointed arch. In Strzegom

(Church of Sts Peter and Paul, 1420; Timmermann 2005),

a sacrament house was built on a concave octagonal plan, de-

corated with gural sculpture and grilles on each side. In the

Church of St Elizabeth in Wrocław, in 1455 (Lutsch 1903),

a free-standing sacrament house was constructed on the plan

of an eight-pointed star, supported by a pillar adorned with

co lumns, reliefs, and sculptural brackets. Co lumns were

plac ed on the arms of the star, connected by pointed arches

and topped with pinnacles. The entire structure was rein-

forced with anchors and connected to the wall.

Similar sacrament houses were built in Germany, Bel-

gium, and Slovakia. In Germany, up to the 15

th

century, wall-

mounted sacrament houses were constructed, while from

the 15

th

to the mid-16

th

century (Baare-Schmidt 1937), tow-

er-shaped sacrament houses were built against walls or pil-

lars, on square or polygonal plans, topped with multi-story,

openwork spires (Fig. 8). In Slovakia and Belgium, 15

th

-cen-

tury sacrament houses were built on octagonal or star-shaped

plans and featured tall nials (Timmermann 2005). In some

buildings, the cornice of the nial was rotated by 45 degrees.

In the churches of Lower Silesia discussed above, sac-

rament houses were built on the east-south (Świebodzice,

Małujowice, Wrocław – Churches of Corpus Christi and

St Mary Magdalene, Ziębice) or north side of the chancel

(Gościszów, Strzegom, Wrocław – Church of St Elizabeth,

Śmiałowice). In German churches, they were usually placed

against the eastern wall or in the northern part of the chan-

cel, except in Hameln, where the sacrament house was lo-

cated in the east-southeast corner of the chancel.

In the Middle Ages, other tower-like structures known as

“lanterns of the dead” (Fig. 7) were also built. These were

usually located on the northern side of churches, near ceme-

teries. They consisted of an upper section open with arcades,

supported by a pillar or pedestal. Such structures could feature

rich decoration in the form of columns, pointed arches, and

rosettes (examples include: Wrocław – Cathedral, 14

th

–15

th

century; Wrocław – Convent of the Sisters of Notre Dame;

mid-14

th

century, which suggests that tower-shaped forms may have al-

ready appeared in the 14

th

century.

Medieval Sacrarium from Bolków Castle?

31

Fig. 7. Selected sacraria in Silesia (elaborated and photo by H. Golasz-Szołomicka, drawings of the sacraria in Świebodzice, Lubin,

and Bolesławiec: after Lutsch 1903, https://bibliotekacyfrowa.pl/dlibra/publication/edition/133925)

Il. 7. Wybrane sakraria na Śląsku (oprac. i fot. H. Golasz-Szołomicka, rys. sakrariów w Świebodzicach, Lubinie, Bolesławcu:

Lutsch 1903, https://bibliotekacyfrowa.pl/dlibra/publication/edition/133925)

13

th

15

th

16

th

14

th

14

th

14

th

15

th

32

Hanna Golasz-Szołomicka, Aleksandra Wolniak

Fig. 8 Selected tower sacraria in Germany (source: Hameln – https://www.kirchbau.de/bildorig/h/hameln_bonifatius_innenb1163x1550_michael_

durwen.jpg, License CC BY-SA 4.0 (a fragment of the original photo was used), accessed February 23, 2025,

Ulm – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ulm_M%C3%BCnster_Sakramentshaus_01.jpg, Uoaei1, License CC BY-SA 4.0

(a fragment of the original photo was used), accessed February 30, 2025, Norymberga, Nördlingen – photo by H. Golasz-Szołomicka)

Il. 8. Wybrane sakraria wieżowe w Niemczech (źródło: Hameln – https://www.kirchbau.de/bildorig/h/hameln_bonifatius_innenb1163x1550_

michael_durwen.jpg, License CC BY-SA 4.0 (wykorzystano fragment oryginalnego zdjęcia), dostęp 23.02.2025,

Ulm – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ulm_M%C3%BCnster_Sakramentshaus_01.jpg, Uoaei1, License CC BY-SA 4.0

(wykorzystano fragment oryginalnego zdjęcia), dostęp 30.02.2025, Norymberga, Nördlingen – fot. H. Golasz-Szołomicka)

Kraków – Church of St Martin, 14

th

century; the Dębnik col-

umn in Krakowski Park and the Planty gardens).

In summary, medieval sacrament houses appeared in

two

main types: wall-mounted, in the form of a niche, and

tower-shaped, either free-standing or built against a wall.

Unlike the lanterns of the dead, sacrament houses of both

types were enclosed with doors and grilles – or, in the case

of Silesia, with grilles alone. A close examination of the

canopy from Bolków Castle, which conrms the presence

of openings for grilles, indicates that it must have covered

a sacrament house rather than a lantern of the dead. It was

a late Gothic, wall-mounted, tower-type sacrarium, en-

closed with grilles on three sides.

An attempt at reconstructing

the Sacrarium from Bolków Castle

An interesting discovery described by Czerner (1963) is

the base of a sacrament house (Fig. 3), or possibly a so-

called lantern of the dead, whose dimensions and material

match perfectly with the recently found canopy. Its proles

still display Gothic cross-sections, similar to the associated

proled rectangular shaft (composed of two elements), dec-

orated with a trefoil motif, on which holes for a grille and

traces of blue polychromy are visible (Fig. 4). Neither the

base nor the shaft was found during the workshops, but both

were carefully described in the doctoral dissertation.

Thus, a concept was developed to t the previously de-

scribed elements together and reconstruct the sacrament

house. Czerner’s drawings of the base and shafts (Figs. 3, 4)

were analysed. After tracing and scaling them and overlay-

ing them onto views of the canopy obtained from a photo-

grammetric scan (Fig. 6), it was found that the elements t

together. The precise drawings of the missing elements al-

low for their replication and the reconstruction of their orig-

inal appearance. Since the shafts documented by Czerner

were already damaged, an attempt was made to determine

their original height. Based on the preserved traces of the

grille, the distances between these points, and the known

number of bars in the grille, a probable original height of the

shafts was calculated. Unfortunately, the black-and-white

photographs do not allow for identication of the original

polychrome colours observed in the 1960s.

During the analysis of Czerner’s drawings depicting the

base of the sacrarium (Fig. 3), a distinct trace of the pillar

on which it once stood was observed. The most challeng-

ing task was determining its height and adjusting the pro-

portions of the entire sacrarium. To reconstruct its original

appearance, similar examples of this type of Gothic liturgi-

cal furnishing were sought in Lower Silesia and the former

German Empire. Many Gothic sacraria come primarily from

large urban centres such as Wrocław (Church of St Mary

Magdalene) or Strzegom (Minor Basilica of Sts Peter and

Paul). These examples are characterised by highly sculptur-

al treatment and a richness of detail (Fig. 7). The recovered

canopy, however, lacks such decoration, which suggests

look ing for analogous examples in smaller towns that did

not have the nancial resources to commission the work of

a master sculptor.

The sacrarium in Bolków is similar in design to those

found in Lubin, Śmiałowice, Bolesławiec, Małujowice, and

Bren nik (Fig. 9). These have a quadrilateral cabinet with

one blind wall supported by a slender single pillar. Only

in Śmia łowice and Brennik is the support decorated with

a trefoil within a pointed arch. The upper part of the cabi-

net, adorned with a pointed arch featuring crockets and an

ad ditional trefoil, appears in Lubin, Śmiałowice, and Bo-

le sła wiec. Walls with open arches on three sides are used

in Śmiałowice, Brennik, and Małujowice. The sacraria in

Lubin, Śmiałowice, and Bolesławiec are crowned with tall

15

th

15

th

15

th

16

th

c.

Medieval Sacrarium from Bolków Castle?

33

After analysing examples from both smaller and larger

urban centres, a decision was made to include an additional

base beneath the column in the design for displaying the

preserved stone elements. The justication for this solution

was the discovery of a stone detail found beneath the castle

walls (Fig. 5). Initially, it had been identied as a fragment

of a cornice; however, after a renewed analysis, it was pro-

posed to reinterpret the piece, supplement it with stonework,

and use it as a stabilising base for the sacrarium.

In the design (Fig. 10), the primary goal was to highlight

the existing elements by using the same material – a dark

greenish sandstone – while contrasting it in colour with the

preserved details. An additional challenge was to connect

the new and historical fragments in a way that would not

gables, while in Małujowice a low, tent-like roof – similar

to the coverings of lanterns of the dead – was used. Among

the churches in Germany, the sacrarium in Hameln stands

out, featuring a quadrilateral cabinet supported on columns

(Baare-Schmidt 1937

3

).

The sacrarium in Brennik served as a model for the re-

construction of the sacrarium in Bolków Castle due to the

similarity in the way the cabinet was mounted. Its column

height, supporting the base, was adopted for the recon-

struction.

3

Baare-Schmidt dates the sacrarium to the 15

th

century, but the ar-

chitectural details of the cabinet suggest the 2

nd

half of the 13

th

century.

Fig. 9. Selected 15

th

- and 16

th

-century Polish sacraria (elaborated and photos by H. Golasz-Szołomicka, drawings of the sacraria in Lubin

and Bolesławiec: after Lutsch 1903, https://bibliotekacyfrowa.pl/dlibra/publication/edition/133925)

Il. 9. Wybrane polskie XV- i XVI-wieczne sakraria (oprac. i fot. H. Golasz-Szołomicka, rys. sakrariów w Lubinie i Bolesławcu: Lutsch 1903,

https://bibliotekacyfrowa.pl/dlibra/publication/edition/133925)

15

th

c.

16

th

c.

34

Hanna Golasz-Szołomicka, Aleksandra Wolniak

References

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Beitrag zur Entwicklungsgeschichte der Zierarchitektur. G.H. Nolte,

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damage the original stonework. It was decided to make

use of the existing holes observed on the underside of the

canopy, located where traces of the supporting shafts were

found. The design proposes deepening these holes to insert

square-section rods that would support the canopy; their

continuation would run through newly carved stone shafts

down to the base. This solution would ensure the structur-

al stability of the piece. Furthermore, maintaining a slight

gap between the canopy and the contemporary elements

would allow viewers to distinguish the historical details

from the reconstructed parts.

Conclusions

The conducted research formed the basis for the ex-

hibition design of the studied monument: a late Gothic

wall-mounted tower-type sacrarium, dated to the late 15

th

–

early 16

th

century. The other previously mentioned stone

elements of a sacred nature display Early Gothic features,

allowing them to be dated to the late 13

th

–early 14

th

cen-

tury. The sacrarium most likely constituted part of the fur-

nishings of the medieval castle chapel.

Thanks to the research workshops and the comparative

ana lysis of selected Gothic sacraria from Lower Silesia,

it was possible to expand the knowledge of the original

furnishings of the chapel. Although the current ndings

do not allow for a complete reconstruction of the original

nial, they do provide valuable clues and make it possible

to formulate hypotheses regarding its original appearance.

These analyses have enriched previous research, including

the studies of Olgierd Czerner, and have led to new and

intriguing discoveries. Their results may not only facilitate

future reconstructions but also enhance the attractiveness

of Bolków Castle for visitors. Each new element uncovered

during the research contributes to a better understanding of

the history of this unique place, which – despite numerous

studies and publications – still conceals many secrets.

Translated by

Bogusław Setkowicz

Acknowledgements

The work was carried out as part of the project of the National Programme

for the Development of Humanities, module: National heritage, registra-

tion number NPRH/DN/SP/495215/2021/10.

Our research would not have been possible without the invaluable support

of the castellan of Bolków Castle, who made the site available for scientic

work.

Fig. 10. Proposed display

of the sacrarium: front view,

section C-C and section B-B

(elaborated by A. Wolniak)

Il. 10. Propozycja ekspozycji

sakrarium: widok z przodu,

przekrój C-C i przekrój B-B

(oprac. A. Wolniak)

Medieval Sacrarium from Bolków Castle?

35

Streszczenie

Średniowieczne sakrarium z Zamku Bolków?

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Dodatkowo dokonano porównawczych analiz średniowiecznych sakrariów i latarni umarłych ze Śląska oraz sąsiednich regionów.

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