Step into the world of interwar design at the Masovian Museum in Płock, home to one of Europe's leading art déco collections.
Housed inside a beautifully restored historic townhouse, the Art of the Interwar Period – Art Déco exhibition is one of the highlights of the Masovian Museum in Płock. Rather than displaying decorative arts in traditional museum cases, the permanent exhibition recreates the atmosphere of the 1920s and 1930s through authentic interiors, furniture, fashion, jewellery and fine art, allowing visitors to step into the world of the interwar years.
Located at 6 Kolegialna Street, the museum's new wing occupies a renovated three-storey townhouse that has become both a cultural landmark and an important part of the ongoing revitalisation of Płock's historic Old Town. The restoration of the once-neglected building was made possible through European Union funding and support from the Marshal's Office of the Mazovian Voivodeship.
A Journey Through the Art Déco Era
The exhibition begins on the ground floor, where visitors are welcomed by a multimedia introduction featuring a night-time panorama of Płock created with light mapping. Nearby, a restored 1926 Jowett motor car immediately sets the tone for a journey into the elegance and innovation of the interwar period.
From there, visitors move through a series of carefully recreated spaces inspired by Polish, French and German interiors. Each room showcases original furniture, ceramics, glassware, textiles, lighting and sculpture, illustrating how art déco influenced both public and private life across Europe.
Elsewhere, themed displays recreate a fashion boutique, a jewellery shop and even a bank manager's office, where collections of jewellery, securities and numismatic objects reveal the craftsmanship and luxury associated with the period.
Design, Fashion and Fine Art
The first floor recreates the apartment of a Polish middle-class family during the 1930s, complete with a living room, dining room, kitchen and bedroom. Among the highlights are beautifully preserved kilims designed by leading Polish artists of the era, offering insight into the country's distinctive contribution to interwar design.
A dedicated design gallery showcases decorative arts produced by renowned Polish glassworks including Niemen, Zawiercie, Hortensja and Krosno, alongside celebrated international manufacturers such as Lalique, Baccarat and Daum. Visitors can also admire ceramics from Ćmielów, Pacyków and Silesian factories, as well as elegant porcelain by Rosenthal.
Metalwork includes designs by acclaimed Polish artist Julia Keilowa, whose modernist creations remain among the defining examples of Polish art déco.
Masterpieces of the Interwar Period
The exhibition also features an impressive collection of paintings by some of the most important artists working during the interwar years. Portraits by Zbigniew Pronaszko, Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz (Witkacy) and Leon Chwistek are displayed alongside works by Leon de Smet and Jan Rudnicki.
One of the museum's greatest treasures is Still Life with an Ancient Sculpture by Tamara Łempicka, widely regarded as one of the defining artists of the art déco movement. Donated by PKN Orlen, the painting has become one of the centrepieces of the collection and a major attraction for visitors interested in twentieth-century art.
Another section highlights Poland's success at the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris, presenting works inspired by folk traditions alongside designs influenced by Cubism and Functionalism.
Interactive elements throughout the exhibition, including multimedia displays, a themed selfie wall and a digital costume mirror, offer visitors additional ways to engage with the period.
Celebrating Two Centuries of the Museum
The permanent exhibition forms part of the celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the Masovian Museum in Płock and is dedicated to the memory of Professor Irena Huml, the distinguished Polish art historian whose work helped shape the museum's internationally recognised art déco collection.
Today, the exhibition stands as one of the museum's flagship attractions and offers one of the most comprehensive explorations of interwar decorative arts in Poland.
Visitor Information
Venue: Masovian Museum, ul. Kolegialna 6, Płock
Exhibition: Art of the Interwar Period – Art Déco (Permanent Exhibition)
Opening Hours
Summer (Tuesday to Sunday)
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Last admission: 45 minutes before closing
Winter (Tuesday to Sunday)
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Last admission: 45 minutes before closing
Closed: Mondays
Admission: Free
Combining immersive period interiors with exceptional examples of design, fashion and fine art, the Art of the Interwar Period – Art Déco exhibition offers far more than a traditional museum visit. Whether exploring the elegance of 1930s domestic life or admiring masterpieces by artists such as Tamara Łempicka, visitors can discover why the Masovian Museum in Płock has become one of Poland's leading destinations for art déco enthusiasts.
