Herbarium with Neman River Plants by Eliza Orzeszkowa

Eliza Orzeszkowa was one of the first Polish female writers who enjoyed universal recognition and is still present today in the Polish literary canon. She wrote during the Polish Positivism period, and was strongly involved in social issues, especially women’s problems. She was nominated for the Nobel Prize in 1905 and 1909.
With her vivid interest in botany, Orzeszkowa’s novels include descriptions of nature that make an important part of the literary world. This passion turned into a professional knowledge of plants growing in her home area along the Neman River. Studying nature, she learned about the local people’s attitude to nature. She was interested in the practical use of herbs in medicine and farming. The herbariums created by Orzeszkowa are admired today because they have retained their original character. The writer knew how to dry flowers properly, so that the plants did not get damaged and did not lose their colours. In this herbarium, the author used over 150 different plants, and each page of the herbarium is a unique composition of herbs and flowers specific for the flora of the Grodno region.
The album consists of 31 thick cardboard leaves. 30 of them feature unique flower and herb compositions designed and made by the writer. The whole album is bound in the form of a solid book, covered with green satin with a brass clasp on the side.