Abstract

The subject of this study is a private ethnographic collection that was gathered in recent years by Józef Iwańczak, a retired farmer and construction worker, in the village of Niedzica in the southern Polish region of Spisz, which is exhibited in a former farm building. The collection consists of agricultural tools and crafts, furniture, housewares, costumes, utensils, religious paintings, photographs, books, letters, and decorations. The ethnographic research conducted shows that the collection plays an important role in local and regional identity. The reconstructed traditional interior is used to host family celebrations and teach school classes about regional culture, along with being a setting for films made by the local folklore group. This self-made museum and its collection of objects of memory constitute a mental and cultural sanctuary for the local residents. The collection is an anchor protecting against the loss of relationships through the historical, traditional culture. It forms a link between generations, enabling the trans-valuation of heritage in a modern environment.