Brooch, 1945-1955, Henryk Grunwald

Brooch with a stylized, simplified figure of a mermaid with a double tail. The mermaid holds a sword in her right hand, the blade of which, bent over her head in a bow, connects with a point with a smooth shield held in her left hand. In the place of the face - a smooth oval. Hair in symmetrically arranged, arcuate upwards sections, three on each side, with a loop in the center. Pointed bust. Double tail, symmetrically diverging into gods, also with a loop in the middle part. Henryk Grunwald belonged to the small group of goldsmiths of the interwar period. In his work, he referred to tales, legends and fairy tales, presenting in the form of silver jewelry, Krak killing a dragon, Mermaid, Mr. Twardowski, Basilisk or the Golden Duck. As the artist was most interested in the process of project preparation and solving compositional issues, many of his projects were carried out by others. He started his closest cooperation with the engraver Stefan Chmielnicki, who became their main contractor. After the war, S. Chmielnicki carried out all the goldsmith's plans, including the exhibition of Henryk Grunwald. These works were signed with Grunwald's stamp and namesake (S.Ch.) of Chmielnicki. Wojciech Jurkowski (W.J.) was the next contractor.