Last year, the Grand Charity Auction captivated attendees with decor reminiscent of Italian baroque, featuring, among other attractions, a live baroque garden and a crystal hall, the latter boasting an authentic carriage. This year promises an exploration of the Orient within a baroque framework, taking inspiration from the Wilanów Palace’s decor. Katarzyna Konkowska, tasked once more with the scenography, has woven motifs and elements from the palace interiors that echo the artistry of the Far East. We envisage oriental fabrics, silks, and brocades, infusing the interiors with elegance and an exotic allure, alongside garden pavilions and pagodas that nod to traditional Chinese and Japanese architecture, thus crafting a distinctive ambiance for the ball. This setting is intended to transcend time and place, offering attendees a tapestry of unforgettable emotions and artistic nuances, Konkowska says.
The Wilanów Palace, celebrated not only as a gem of Polish baroque but also as a confluence of European architectural styles influenced by the Far East, is adorned with interiors rich in oriental motifs. These range from Chinese vases to Japanese lacquers, seamlessly blending European opulence with the subtle accents of Eastern tradition. The presence of Chinoiseries, a trend that found its footing in Europe in the 17th century, permeates various domains such as art, furniture, porcelain, and gardening. This inclination enabled artists to re-interpret Far Eastern aesthetics. Such inspirations undoubtedly influenced successive custodians of the Wilanów Palace, including Augustus II the Strong, Izabela from the Czartoryski Lubomirska family, and Stanisław Kostka Potocki, in their decoration of cabinets and apartments. The palace library still houses collections of manuscripts from the Far East and intricately decorated panels reminiscent of traditional Japanese tatami. Thanks to Stanisław Kostka Potocki, the palace also became the site of one of Poland’s inaugural museums, home to the Chinese Apartment and its collection of chinoiserie.
