Stefania Dawid

A big heart in small dolls

First, out of ready-made, factory-made dolls, Mrs. Stefania Dawid selects those that have Kurpian features – a pretty face, big eyes and thick braids. Then, she sews elaborate clothes for them – not only unique, but also unusual, regional ones. She puts all her heart into working on them. Mrs. Dawid’s workshop is her home kitchen. Here, by the traditional tile stove, her unique pieces are created – from Kurpie regional costumes, in which she dresses the dolls, to czółko headdresses, to aprons with crochet lace elements.

Stefania Dawid started living in Jeglijowiec in the 60s, shortly after she married. At times, the farm was not enough to sustain the family, so she decided to take up cottage work for the Folk and Art Handicraft Cooperative Kurpianka in Kadzidło. The reason behind was prosaic and materialistic, but she had excellent predispositions.

Mrs. Dawid’s manual skills came from her family home in Lipniki, where she worked flax, weaved linen cloth and woollen rugs on a loom, while her mother – Bronisława Lisek – sewed regional costumes. Already as a teenager, Stefania Dawid was knitting the clothes her family needed: scarves, sweaters, shawls and caps. These skills helped her develop her own business. She specialised in making regional costumes (skirts, corsets, spencerek jackets, lejbik caftans, shirts), but also weaved mats, tablecloths, runners and towels. Making regional dolls in Kurpian costumes complemented the entirety of her creative skills.

To those, whom the cordial hostess befriends, she sometimes shows her treasures; her home attic is still full of memorabilia from the past: old paintings, textiles, clothing, furniture, and remnants of everyday life. This allows you to see old, woven Kurpie fabrics and pieces of hand-sewn garments. And in the space, which is available to all guests, the pride of place is taken, as in many Kurpie homes, by the holy corner, although already arranged in a modern way.

The works of Stefania Dawid are available in the Museum of Kurpie Culture in Ostrołęka and in many other institutions. The artist takes active part in folk art competitions, exhibitions and fairs. Her works were presented, among others, during such events as Kadzidło Sunday, Kurpie Wedding, Disappearing Occupations in Kadzidło, Palm Sunday in Łyse, Kurpie Honey Harvest or Kurpie May Day. She has won the Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodship award Pro Masovia, Badge of Honour for Merit to Polish Culture, and she is a member of the Association of Folk Artists. And it seems that the skills and love of tradition, passed down from generation to generation in Mrs. Dawid’s family, will survive these days. The artist has passed on her expertise in the field of traditional weaving and sewing to all her four daughters.