Museum of Natural History of Polish Academy of Sciences

Krystyna Nykiel

The Museum of Natural History of the Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals at the Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow originates from the Physiographic Commission formed in 1865. Opened to the public in 1888, its first exhibition comprised geological and ornithological collections displayed on an area of 265 m 2 in the rooms of a building in Slawkowska St. in Krakow; the first guide for the public visiting the geological exhibition was also written at the time. The turmoil of war, political changes and financial difficulties led to flux in the size of the Museum's exhibition and storage space, but, fortunately, thanks to the dedication and commitment on the part of its staff did not result in its closing. (The detailed story of Polish museums of natural history is outlined in Jerzy Pawlowski's book “Szkic dziejów muzealnictwa przyrodniczego w Polsce” [An Outline of the History of Natural History Museums in Poland].)

Since 1992, the Museum has been housed in a building at 9 Sw. Sebastiana St. in Krakow. It was also then that the Museum's amber collection was started. The first donor was the Museum's director Wieslaw Krzeminski, who donated his private collection of amber inclusions. Next, the collection was enhanced by specimens donated by private persons and obtained through purchase. In 2001, the Museum signed a notary act to take over an enormous amber collection from Jacek Serafin. This was the beginning of the Museum's collection of colour varieties of amber, its natural forms, and in time also amber artefacts (amulets, sculptures, cigarette holders, ornaments, etc.) from the Palaeolithic to our times, which complemented its initial collection of amber inclusions.

The first amber exhibition entitled In the Amber Trap was organised in 1993 at the Museum of Natural History in Neuchatel, Switzerland; the exhibition was developed by Wieslaw Krzeminski and his wife Ewa Krzeminska. The exhibition presented the process which led to the forming of amber, its natural forms, colour varieties, and most of all its significance for science by showing the mysteries of life hidden in the beautiful fossil resin nuggets. The exhibition was a grand success and went straight from Switzerland to France, where it was displayed at the Strasbourg University astronomical observatory. The exhibition coincided with the publication of a book in French entitled Les phantomes de l'ambre, which was later translated into Polish. The Polish version, by Ewa and Wieslaw Krzeminski, was entitled W bursztynowej pulapce [ In the Amber Trap ]. In Poland, the exhibition debuted in the Kijow Cinema in Krakow at the première of Spielberg's Jurassic Park , after which it was shown at: the Botanical Gardens of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) in Powsin (near Warsaw), the Jacek Malczewski Museum in Radom, the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola, the District Museum in Miedzychod, the International House of Culture in Miedzyzdroje, the Community Centre in Kolobrzeg and the Arboretum in Bolestraszyce. In 2001, the amber exhibition accompanied the International Congress on Fossil Insects, which took place at the Museum in Krakow in 9 Sw. Sebastiana St., with Prof. Wieslaw Krzeminski and Dr. Ewa Krzeminska as its chief organisers together with the staff of the Museum of Natural History.

Interest in amber is growing year by year. Indeed, almost everyone has taken an interest. Geologists and geochemists examine its chemical constitution and the process whereby it formed, archaeologists and historians examine decorative pieces and artworks made of amber for millennia, for the lay people it can be a holiday souvenir or a sophisticated piece of jewellery, while palaeontologist see it as a mine of information about extinct flora and fauna. The inclusions preserved in Baltic amber enable us to learn about the natural environment in the Eocene, while by comparing the species preserved in amber with their contemporary counterparts we can learn how the evolution of certain groups of plants and animals progressed. This is the reason for a new exhibition programme (by Wieslaw Krzeminski and Krystyna Nykiel), which is to show the beauty of the natural treasure of Baltic amber, to explain its impact on the development of culture, art, jewellery, science and medicine in Europe and throughout the world and to present it as Poland's promotional calling card. The final preparations are under way to get the exhibition ready; groups of specialists from various fields of science: archaeologists, art historians, biologists, dendrologists and metallurgists are studying and, wherever possible, dating the exhibits to be displayed. The exhibition will open to the public in the fall of 2007. The publishing of a catalogue of the Museum's amber collection is also scheduled for this date.