Parrot

A parrot, together with similar bird figurines, made in 1947 in Koszarawa (now Silesian Province).

The Koszarawa area is the largest and oldest home-based toy production centre in Poland, called – because of its surrounding area – the Żywiec region. Toy production began there as early as the 19th century, initially as a by-product of the manufacture of wooden equipment and tools. The range of toys was diverse, and so: Koszarawa is mainly associated with cradles and doll cots, Lachowice with carriages and horses, and Stryszawa is still famous today for its colourful painted birds.

According to Tadeusz Seweryn, it was all started in Stryszawa by Teofil Mentel, who, having served a hermit in Kalwaria for several years, where he helped to make devotional items, was gifted a bird atlas. Taking his inspiration from it and by observing live birds – of which there were plenty in the village – he started carving small bird figurines out of wood and painting them in vivid colours. Other family members learned this skill from him, followed by neighbours from Stryszawa.