Płock Diadem
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Płock Diadem (Polish: Diadem płocki) is a reliquary crown held in the city of Płock, in central Poland. It was created in the beginning of the 13th century[1] probably in Hungary and was brought to Poland in the Middle Ages. This filigree diadem is wrought of silver and gold, being set with sapphires, rubies, almandines and pearls.[2][3][4]
History
The diadem was brought to Poland by one of the Hungarian princesses. Later assigned to Konrad I of Masovia, Duke of Masovia it served as the personal crown of the Dukes of Masovia and was kept in the Płock Cathedral.[1]
In 1601 by order of King Sigismund III Vasa the diadem was placed by a goldsmith Stanisław Zemelka on reliquary of St. Sigismund (patron saint of the King, also kept in the Masovian Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral in Płock). This reliquary takes the form of a bust and it was established by King Casimir III the Great in the 14th century to comprise relics of that saint.[5] The reliquary was made in Kraków between 1351–1356 and it depicts the King.[1]
The reliquary was looted by the Germans during World War II, and later reclaimed.[3]
