There is a place in Poznań’s Jeżyce district that is a tangible reminder of more than a century ago. It is the interior of a former butcher’s shop at 64 Dąbrowskiego Street, today functioning as a second-hand clothing shop. The décor is a testament to the Art Nouveau aesthetic of the early 20th century. Although hidden behind shelves and hangers, the colourful tiles still attract the gaze of those who are able to perceive the beauty of the former era.
A tenement house from the Prussian era in Poznań
The tenement in which the premises are located was built at the beginning of the last century. It was a period when Poznań was part of Prussia and was known as Posen. At the time, Dąbrowskiego Street was called Grosse Berlinerstrasse and the neighbourhood was developing intensively. It was at this time that a butcher’s shop opened in a single-storey premises, operating there for decades until it closed about 10 years ago. Although the function of the place has changed, traces of its former purpose are still visible in the ceramic images of ox, ram and pig heads.
Tiles that tell a story
The interior impresses with its wealth of detail. The walls are lined with tiles of varying texture and colour, creating an intricate composition. The lower part of the wall, framed by bands of green tiles and cornices, contrasts with the frieze formed by bouquets of roses above – delicate, pastel, with celadon leaves and pink crowns. Above this is a wide band decorated with a sigmoidally curved floral virage, ending in a frieze of flowers with wavy stems. At the top is a frieze of cup-shaped flowers in warm shades of yellow, green and brown, framed by a semi-circular cornice. The composition closes with ceramic representations of animal heads. This is a decoration typical of butcher shops of the period.
The interior of a butcher’s shop with potential
Today, the premises serve a different function and many of the interior details are obscured by contemporary furnishings. Over the years, some of the tiles have also been damaged to a greater or lesser extent, such as chipping or surface cracking. However, it is hard to resist the impression that the place still has great potential, both historically and aesthetically. Interiors of this type are now rare. Their preservation is becoming an increasing challenge, but also a duty to local history and architectural heritage.
Art Nouveau deserving a second life
Poznan cannot often boast such a well-preserved example of utilitarian Art Nouveau. It is such details, overlooked and often underestimated on a daily basis, that tell the most authentic stories about the city’s past life. Perhaps the day will come when the tiles at 64 Dąbrowskiego Street will regain the condition and attention they deserve, and the interior of the shop will tell of the beauty of craftsmanship of a bygone era.
Source: white paper – Office of the Municipal Conservator of Monuments in Poznań
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