6-petal rosette is an ancient symbol, a part of the overlapping circles grid family that was appearing in various cultures and dates back at least as far back as the Late Bronze Age. It was discovered in numerous lands all over Europe and beyond, including stonework of the old Celts, Visigoths, ancient Egypt, Rome, China, and many others. It was used in early Christian art as well, for example in the stonework of early Romanesque and Gothic churches, as well as in Byzantine structures.
Over the centuries it survived among many different regions all over the continent, including the rural art of the Slavic people. It was widespread notably in the areas around the Carpathian Mountain Range (that include mountainous regions of southern Poland, and stretches across countries like Romania, Slovakia, southeastern Ukraine, northern Serbia, Hungary) where it was used primarily as a protective symbol for the building and appliances.
In the Polish ethnography it’s identified the most with the region of Podhale, which is located under the Tatra Mountains (part of the Carpathians). In that culturally-rich region it was well-preserved and cherished in local crafts including woodworking, embroidery and painting. Because of the popularity of Podhale’s folklore many Polish people themselves associate the rosette symbol with that region only – what is understandable since Podhale’s folklore is widely visible and promoted, but at the same time that notion is wrong because the symbol was appearing in rural crafts all over other regions of Poland as well. Some regions were less fortunate and in fact much of Polish rural art had been lost during the wars that ravaged the lands in the past.
The symbol is simple: based on a grid of 7 overlapping circles that create a 6-pointed ‘star’, with 6 inner ‘petals’, sometimes with an outer ring encircling the whole symbol, sometimes the petals alone. It was appearing in widely-understood applied arts: on ceiling beams, doors and door headers, window frames, furniture, household appliances, embroidery, and many other construction elements and household items or decorations in the old countryside.
In the Polish folklore it was treated as a protective magickal symbol, identified as a remnant of the pre-Christian solar worship, sometimes called a ‘star’ (gwiazda) or a ‘little Sun’ (słonko or słoneczko). What’s extremely interesting, it was often associated also with the worship of the Mother Mary and therefore called a rosette (rozeta or różyca), linking it to the feminine mystic/sacred rose symbolism found in Christianity. The symbol was decorating spinning wheels, distaffs, and various devices used in processing flax, hemp or linen. Therefore, it could be also analyzed in the context of the old worship of the Sacred Mother / Mother Earth or old goddesses, for example Mokosh who was the patron goddess of spinning and weaving. All of that makes the interpretation of the symbol’s meaning extremely complex.
One of rosette’s notable magickal property, common across all the Slavic countries where the symbol appeared, was said to be warding off the lightnings and storms, keeping the house safe – reason why was it so often carved on wooden elements of construction. In relation to that common trait this symbol is nowadays usually interpreted and associated with Perun, the thunder god.
I’m trying to collect as much examples of the rosette in Polish crafts as possible, and below you can see some of my interesting findings so far. I showed some of them before in my references gallery under the tag ‘rozeta‘. I tried to sort out the pictures below by general regions, and to focus mostly on historical examples of the usage. I intended the following material to be a good collection of references showing where was it appearing in the past (in context of both geography, and types of items it was adorning). The collection isn’t complete, and I hope to keep expanding it and adding more references in the future – especially because, as briefly mentioned above, some regions were less fortunate and to look for surviving examples is extremely hard. Enjoy!
ROSETTE IN POLISH RURAL ART AND CRAFTS
REGION OF LUBLIN / LUBELSZCZYZNA
Region roughly corresponding with the present-day Lublin Voivodeship (administrative district) in eastern Poland.
Large cultural and historical region of Mazovia in northeastern central Poland, surrounding the capital of Warsaw.
Rosette on a hurdy-gurdy (Polish: lira korbowa) from Kadzidło, region of Kurpie in north-eastern Poland, made by a local musician Andrzej Staśkiewicz. Source: kadzidlo.plRosette on window shutters, cottage in the open-air museum in Sierpc, central Poland. Source: Muzeum Wsi Mazowieckiej w Sierpcu
REGION OF PODLASIE
Podlasie, sometimes spelled Podlachia in English, is a region in north-eastern Poland, along the Polish-Belarusian border.
A separate ethnographical region in central Poland, around the cities of Sieradz and Piotrków Trybunalski, corresponding with the historical Sieradz Land.
Rosette on a beam dated before 1626, discovered in a cloister (before turning into cloister, the building is assumed to have been a regular townhouse). Photography by Dariusz Śmigielski / piotrkowtrybunalski.naszemiasto.pl
REGION OF HOLY CROSS / ŚWIĘTOKRZYSKIE
Cultural region roughly corresponding with the Holy Cross Voivodeship, located in south-central Poland around the city of Kielce.
Area corresponding with the Podkarpackie Voivodeship in south-eastern Poland. Here we start entering the Carpathian region: the southern parts of that voivodeship (administrative district) belong to the geographical Carpathian Mountain Range.
Cimbalom from Kąkolówka, Błażowa County, c. 1914. Author/creator: Piotr Mucha. From the collections of Muzeum Etnograficzne im. Franciszka Kotuli w Rzeszowie. Source: ludowe.instrumenty.edu.plCloseup of rosette decorating the cimbalom from Kąkolówka above. Source: ludowe.instrumenty.edu.plCimbalom from Czerce, Sieniawa County, 1981. Author/creator: Bronisław Pikuła. From the collections of Muzeum Etnograficzne im. Franciszka Kotuli w Rzeszowie. Source: ludowe.instrumenty.edu.plCimbalom from Grodzisko, Strzyżów County, postwar (excact date unknown). From the collections of Muzeum Etnograficzne im. Franciszka Kotuli w Rzeszowie. Source: ludowe.instrumenty.edu.plCimbalom from Grodzisko, Strzyżów County, postwar (excact date unknown). From the collections of Muzeum Etnograficzne im. Franciszka Kotuli w Rzeszowie. Source: ludowe.instrumenty.edu.plCimbalom from Grodzisko, Strzyżów County, 20th century. From the collections of Muzeum Etnograficzne im. Franciszka Kotuli w Rzeszowie. Source: ludowe.instrumenty.edu.pl
LESSER POLAND / MAŁOPOLSKA
Areas roughly corresponding with the Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland. The southernmost parts of that area belong to the Carpathian Mountain Range, and are inhabitated by various different cultural groups of Highlanders (Górale).
(side note: that administrative district includes also the region of Podhale, however I’ve created a separate section below only for that region)
Rosette on a ceiling beam, Orawa Highlanders. Source: bgpn.plRosette on a ceiling beam, old cottage in the open-air ethnography museum of Orawa Highlanders in Sidzina. Photography by A.Czyżewska / skanseny.netRosette on a ceiling beam, Babia Góra Highlanders. Source: bgpn.plRosette in an old house in Mistrzejowice, nowadays in a district of Kraków. Source: nhmz.plCarpathian-style wooden chest, beginning of 20th century. Sowliny, Limanowa County. Source: etnomuzeum.euCarpathian-style wooden chest, end of 19th century. Przyborów, Żywiec district. Source: etnomuzeum.euPainted chest from Wiśniowa, Myślenice County, end of 19th century. Source: etnomuzeum.euPainted bench from vicinity of Kraków. Source: Irena Czarnecka “Polnische Volkskunst”, 1957Chair from Poznachowice, Myślenice county, c. 1900. Source: etnomuzeum.euChair from Poznachowice, Myślenice county, c. 1900. Source: etnomuzeum.euChair from Jurków, Limanowa County, Zagórzanie cultural group, 1910. The region is located in southern Poland close to Podhale. Source: etnomuzeum.euChair of Babia Góra Highlanders, village of Zawoja, 1905. Source: etnomuzeum.euToy, Beskid Żywiecki Higlanders, village of Lachowice, Beskid Żywiecki County, 1972. Source: etnomuzeum.euOther examples of toys from vicinities of Kraków. Source: etnomuzeum.euSpinning wheel from Brzyna, Łącko County. Source: Józef Grabowski “Sztuka ludowa. Formy i regiony w Polsce”, Wyd. Arkady, Warszawa 1967.Decorative spoon holder from region of Orawa, 1960s. From the Collection of Orawa Ethnography Museum, source: kultura.malopolska.plDecorative spoon holder from region of Orawa, from the turn of 19th/20th centuries. In the Collection of Orawa Ethnography Museum, source: kultura.malopolska.plWayside shrine adorned with ‘stars’, Olszanka near Nowy Sącz. Source: Józef Grabowski “Sztuka ludowa. Formy i regiony w Polsce”, Wyd. Arkady, Warszawa 1967.
REGION OF PODHALE
Finally, as the last section, I present you with materials from the region of Podhale where the symbol of rosette survived in abundance. It appears in majority of woodcrafting decorations, becoming a popular symbol that nowadays is used in many travel advertisements of the region. Still nowadays it’s cherished by local craftsmen and appears in many newly built wooden houses as a bow towards tradition of putting that protective symbol on ceiling beams, as well as in interior decorations that fuse the modern style with the local traditional crafts. I’ll start here with historical tables showing the usage of the symbol around the turn of 19th/20th centuries, and then I’ll include some photographs and historical examples.
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901.
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901.
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901.
Pages above from: Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901. Available online at polona.pl
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901
Above: selection of illustrations showing rosettes on various elements such as construction beams, spoon holders, hangers, spinning wheel distaffs, cheese molds, chairs, and a pair of winter sleigh; source: Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901. Available online at polona.pl
Władysław Matlakowski (1850-1895) “Zdobienie i sprzęt ludu polskiego na Podhalu: zarys życia ludowego”, released in 1901. Available online at polona.pl
Kazimierz Mokłowski “Sztuka ludowa w Polsce” Cz.1: Dzieje mieszkań ludowych, Cz.2: Zabytki sztuki ludowej, 1903. Available online at Rolnicza Biblioteka Cyfrowa
9 thoughts on “Rosette / 6-pointed Star in Polish folklore”
I found an old teachers desk from Pennsylvania and it has this mark 3 times on it one large one medium and small. How can I find out if this is an antique piece?
Such a wonderful blog! Thank you for putting together this terrific resource in English. I’m interested in this rosette, in conjunction with the “thunder mark” and kolovrat symbols. Would love to see anything more you could provide on this topic. Interestingly as well, this symbol is very similar to the hagal rune. It’s interesting that all of these seem to have a connection to the Thunder God be that Perun or Thor. It seems all of these symbols probably date back even to pre-Slavic culture, to an earlier common Indo-European ancestor culture. Would you be able to produce more content on these topics? (Or if not, provide links to further sources?). I’m particularly interested in the question of why this “thunder-related” symbol has six arms and the kolovrat typically has eight. Is there a numerological significance in Polish folklore about these numbers and their significance? Are there archeological instances of a six-armed kolovrat? Thank you for any further information you can provide on these topics!
On a personal note, I have formerly attended architecture school as well, although I no longer work in that field. I’m a US citizen of Polish descent, and these topics are of the greatest interest to me. All your work really is brilliant. I look for books on this subject matter all the time but source material in English is almost non-existent. Thanks in advance for any further information! And I hope you know how very valuable this work you do on this blog is! You seriously should organize and publish this material in more “permanent” book form.
Best regards, J
Thank you so much for the comment and for the uplifting words! I’ll see what I can do about gathering more sources on the topic, although good sources about the rosettes are rather scarce. And, on a personal note, I’m sadly drowning in work over the recent months (even though you wrote you don’t work in the field anymore you might’ve had the time to notice it’s the biggest downside of the business as it doesn’t leave much space for other activities). What would interest you the most?
Kolovrat is a completely different topic, as its design, so hugely popular nowadays among Rodnovers, is more of a contemporary product. It’s just a “cleaned up” variant of various circular Sun symbols that had been found, various spinning stars I might say – some had 6 “arms” as well. As far as my research went so far there’s no confident archaeological evidence of kolovrat in the form we know it nowadays under that name.
Every time I read your blog it feels like I was reading about Slovakia. Really shows how close we are despite centuries. Definitely best blog out there.
Thank you! Looking closely into the folklore, our countries are indeed so close together. The more you research, the more similarities you find. In the end, most of the differences are in small details like spelling of certain names.
Lamus Dworski 
I found an old teachers desk from Pennsylvania and it has this mark 3 times on it one large one medium and small. How can I find out if this is an antique piece?
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Reblogged this on Die Goldene Landschaft.
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Such a wonderful blog! Thank you for putting together this terrific resource in English. I’m interested in this rosette, in conjunction with the “thunder mark” and kolovrat symbols. Would love to see anything more you could provide on this topic. Interestingly as well, this symbol is very similar to the hagal rune. It’s interesting that all of these seem to have a connection to the Thunder God be that Perun or Thor. It seems all of these symbols probably date back even to pre-Slavic culture, to an earlier common Indo-European ancestor culture. Would you be able to produce more content on these topics? (Or if not, provide links to further sources?). I’m particularly interested in the question of why this “thunder-related” symbol has six arms and the kolovrat typically has eight. Is there a numerological significance in Polish folklore about these numbers and their significance? Are there archeological instances of a six-armed kolovrat? Thank you for any further information you can provide on these topics!
On a personal note, I have formerly attended architecture school as well, although I no longer work in that field. I’m a US citizen of Polish descent, and these topics are of the greatest interest to me. All your work really is brilliant. I look for books on this subject matter all the time but source material in English is almost non-existent. Thanks in advance for any further information! And I hope you know how very valuable this work you do on this blog is! You seriously should organize and publish this material in more “permanent” book form.
Best regards, J
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Thank you so much for the comment and for the uplifting words! I’ll see what I can do about gathering more sources on the topic, although good sources about the rosettes are rather scarce. And, on a personal note, I’m sadly drowning in work over the recent months (even though you wrote you don’t work in the field anymore you might’ve had the time to notice it’s the biggest downside of the business as it doesn’t leave much space for other activities). What would interest you the most?
Kolovrat is a completely different topic, as its design, so hugely popular nowadays among Rodnovers, is more of a contemporary product. It’s just a “cleaned up” variant of various circular Sun symbols that had been found, various spinning stars I might say – some had 6 “arms” as well. As far as my research went so far there’s no confident archaeological evidence of kolovrat in the form we know it nowadays under that name.
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Every time I read your blog it feels like I was reading about Slovakia. Really shows how close we are despite centuries. Definitely best blog out there.
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Thank you! Looking closely into the folklore, our countries are indeed so close together. The more you research, the more similarities you find. In the end, most of the differences are in small details like spelling of certain names.
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Wonderful blog, as always!
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Thank you!
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