Museum of the Leather Craft Guild

The Jan Kiliński Museum of the Leather Crafts Guild, located in the heart of Warsaw's Old Town at 10 Wąski Dunaj Street in the historic Shoemakers' Tenement, was established in 1973 on the initiative of the Leather Crafts Guild. Its mission is to preserve and showcase traditions related to leatherworking and to organize craft workshops. The museum features two exceptional workshops—shoemaking and saddlery—fully equipped with 19th-century historical tools, serving not only as an attractive architectural element but also as an illustration of the craftsmanship of bygone centuries. The collections include a rich assortment of items, such as slides depicting workshop interiors from the 15th to the 20th century, guild documents like the Statute of the Saddlers' Guild signed by King Stanisław August Poniatowski, and a valuable Book of Admissions to Municipal Rights from 1506–1638. The museum also boasts guild insignia and emblems from the 16th to 18th centuries, as well as leather goods, some of which were discovered during archaeological excavations carried out during the post-war reconstruction of the Old Town. The holdings also include miniature shoes from 1910–1965 and portraits of Jan Kiliński and the patron saints of shoemakers. An interesting artifact is the buckle worn by Kiliński, discovered in the basement of his house. The museum is a significant part of Warsaw's cultural heritage, documenting not only the history of leathercraft but also the socio-cultural foundations of the city, emphasizing the value of tradition in a contemporary context. The long-time director, Lidia Lwow-Eberle, contributed to the institution's development, which has gathered valuable donations from the guild and private individuals. Its collections hold not only museum significance but also educational value, encouraging the exploration of craftsmanship and its role in Warsaw's history.