Not only the Golden Gate? A newly discovered fragment from the decoration of the castle chapel portal in Althaus (Starogród) as a contribution to the identification of ceramic sculpture in the Teutonic Order's State in Prussia

Abstract

The paper features new observations on ceramic architectural detail and ceramic sculptural elements, the most common types of finishing brick buildings in the Ordensland during the 13th and first half of the 14th centuries. It presents an unpublished fragment which came to light as a result of the archaeological excavations in Starogrod conducted in Kulmerland (Chelmno land) in the context of the project Castra Terrae Culmensis (2017), namely the fragment of a portal (?) sculpture of an unknown Saint. It is a minor discovery of small size, but compared to other preserved artwork of this type from around 1300 from the Teutonic Order’s castles of Marienburg (today Malbork), Elbing (Elbląg), Thorn (Torun), and Graudenz (Grudziądz), it is of great “causative power” in terms of revising our knowledge of types, manufacturing techniques, and above all, the actual layers of meaning with regard to figural decorations in the oldest Teutonic Order’s strongholds in Prussia. As a result, ceramic architectural sculpture can be considered a phenomenon of much wider range than has previously been accepted. The emphasis regarding its condition can be moved from the exceptional symbol of rank and power toward genius loci of architecture from the first phase of construction campaigns undertaken by the Teutonic Order in Prussia.