The Most Personal, the Most Mysterious

Many of Chopin's letters are personal, even intimate memorabilia. It was in this way that Fryderyk professed friendly feelings and confided about his longing to his family. He also committed his musical plans and reports on his artistic life to paper.

There are objects that can tell us about Chopin's creative process and introduce us to his musical imagination. These are sketch autographs, i.e. Fryderyk's compositional notes.

We see numerous deletions on them, sometimes there are also traces of trying out a pen, or later notes added by Chopin himself.

The calendar accompanied Chopin on a daily basis. He wrote down in it when he was to give a lesson, attend a concert or an elegant dinner. Sometimes he also happened to make drawings or hasty musical notes on its pages.

Fryderyk loved sweets, and since he ate them often, he needed an appropriate packaging for the candy. This tiny cardboard box with an image of a cat still touches not only the youngest visitors of the Chopin Museum.

This mysterious-looking object owes its form to Chinese art, very fashionable in the 19th century; for what purpose could Chopin use it?

It was a bell for the servants who helped Fryderyk run the house.

The collection of the Fryderyk Chopin Museum in Warsaw also includes cufflinks used by the composer, well-known for his elegance and exquisite taste. Small jewelry items decorated with pearls were a chic and discreet accessory for evening outfit.

One of the most interesting personal mementos is a gold watch that ten-year-old Chopin received from the world-famous singer Angelica Catalani who was visiting Warsaw during her tour in January 1820.

The piano was the most valuable piece of equipment in Chopin's apartment. The last instrument belonging to Fryderyk was bought by his student Jane Stirling who then decided to give it to the composer's family.

The piano which Chopin played at the end of his life is the heart of the museum to this day. Looking at the elegant silhouette of the instrument, we can imagine Fryderyk in his home outfit, leaning over the ivory keyboard.