The Gdańsk Treasure of fabrics as a mark of European friendship

The St. Anne’s Museum has a very special treasure on permanent loan: the Paraments of Gdańsk. These are 103 of the most precious liturgical textile items from the property of the Union of Protestant Churches in the EKD (UEK), Hanover.

A small selection of these valuable pieces is presented in regular rotation in the heart of St. Anne’s Museum. This presentation will once again place great emphasis on the interaction between the arts in the Middle Ages. The vestments together with the architecture, stained glass, paintings and sculptures from the 15th century create a beautiful and harmonious overall picture. The liturgical garments all served to make the service a solemn celebration for Christians in honor of God.

The finest embroidery and Asian as well as Italian silks display the high value that was once attached to these vestments. They originate from St. Mary’s Church in Gdańsk and were made mainly in the 14th and 15th centuries, donated by the burghers of Gdańsk. They survived the Reformation and wars hidden away in the church. It was not until the 19th century that they were rediscovered by chance during construction works.

At the end of World War II, Gdańsk citizens fleeing to Lübeck together with the local pastor Gerhard Gülzow took some of these precious textiles along, thus saving them from destruction. A further 183 pieces were taken to Thuringia and returned to Gdańsk after the war.

In December 2022, the Union of Protestant Churches declared in a joint letter of intent with St. Mary’s Church in Gdańsk that the objects from Lübeck are also to be returned to Gdańsk once the conditions allow. An advisory board of Polish and German experts was assembled to thoroughly prepare for a professional return. Some objects will nevertheless remain in Lübeck on a rotating basis to be presented here.