The upholstery that lined the coffins placed in the crypt of the Corpus Christi Church in Nesvizh has been greatly damaged over the centuries by inner turmoils, social upheavals, floods and pests. Unfortunately, today we can judge about coffin interior lining only from the surviving meagre remains.
The research carried out in 2016 and in 2017 revealed that the interior upholstery that lined the majority of wood coffins placed in metal sarcophagi was light-colour linen or silk1Information and generalisations in the present text are presented on the basis of research material on 11 burials (sarcophagi) in the crypt of the Corpus Christi Church in Nesvizh conducted in 2016 and 2017. Sarcophagi No 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 11, 14, 15, 17, 19, and 72 were studied. The numbering of the sarcophagi is hereinafter referred to in accordance with the Inventory carried out by the Department of Cultural Heritage (Lithuania) in 1999, see [Gintaras Kazlauskas, et al.], Kunigaikščių Radvilų mauzoliejaus inventorizacija: [the manuscript; preserved at the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture (Lithuania)], 1999, p. [18] [the scheme]., which was fasted to the coffin by decorative nails; some of the upholstery was decorated with galloons interwoven with metal threads. Some brighter fabrics were found in two coffins containing the male remains: one of the bodies rested on a deep red silk satin pillow, and the other one – on a mattress covered with a very similar fabric2Sarcphagi No 1 and 3.. The coffin of Michał Kazimierz Radziwiłł Rybeńko (1702-1762) was lined with crimson velvet3Sarcophgus No 11.. Karmazyn (crimson) colour signified the noble origin and wealth of the deceased in the society of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
The bodies of the diseased were placed on mattresses and pillows of various sizes stuffed with sawdust, dry grass or any other material thought to be fragrant. These fillings easily absorbed excessive moisture caused by the natural decomposition of the body. Some smaller pillows4Sarcophagi No 17 and 19. were found in the coffins of Urszula Franciszka Wiśniowiecka Radziwiłł (1705-1753) and Karol Stanisław Radziwiłł Panie Kochanku (1734-1790); they probably were used to prop the bodies distorted by diseases and overweight.
It seems that no very expensive fabrics, laces or ribbons were used for interior lining of the coffins, though attempts were made to make everything match. The coffin of Hieronim Florian Radziwiłł (1715-1760) differed from the coffins of other relatives in its chic: it was lined with luxurious white silk ornamented with the motifs of floral stalks and leaflets; the prince’s head rested on the then very fashionable oriental cylinder-shaped pillow made of expensive brocade fabric and stuffed with horse-hair5Sarcophagus No 15..
During the research, it was discovered that some part of the coffin interior lining was covered with drops of candle wax. This reminds of long wakes exhaustively described in historical sources.
Vytautė Lukšėnienė
Findings research report. 2016 (Vytautė Lukšėnienė)
Findings research report. 2017 (Vytautė Lukšėnienė)
| 1. | ↑ | Information and generalisations in the present text are presented on the basis of research material on 11 burials (sarcophagi) in the crypt of the Corpus Christi Church in Nesvizh conducted in 2016 and 2017. Sarcophagi No 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 11, 14, 15, 17, 19, and 72 were studied. The numbering of the sarcophagi is hereinafter referred to in accordance with the Inventory carried out by the Department of Cultural Heritage (Lithuania) in 1999, see [Gintaras Kazlauskas, et al.], Kunigaikščių Radvilų mauzoliejaus inventorizacija: [the manuscript; preserved at the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture (Lithuania)], 1999, p. [18] [the scheme]. |
| 2. | ↑ | Sarcphagi No 1 and 3. |
| 3. | ↑ | Sarcophgus No 11. |
| 4. | ↑ | Sarcophagi No 17 and 19. |
| 5. | ↑ | Sarcophagus No 15. |
Sources of Illustrations:
| 1. | Photograph by Salvijus Kulevičius, 2017 // in: Salvijus Kulevičius’ personal collection. |