Arcydzieła z ciasta. Toruńskie pierniki w zbiorach muzealnych w Polsce i na świecie
The pastry masterpieces. Toruń gingerbread in museum collections in Poland and abroad

Summary/Abstract: The article presents the idea of collecting historical, figurative Toruń gingerbread in Poland and abroad. Toruń gingerbread cookies, regarded as one of the symbols of the Polish culinary heritage, were collected to in museums and exposed on permanent as well as on temporary exhibitions. The oldest of those objects are about one hundred years old. Some of them were baked in wooden gingerbread molds, which vanished during WW II. Gingerbread cakes and cookies (made in that way) are the only material trace left of how those molds looked as well as what the composition of the dough was. Hard, almost inedible figurative pastries played a significant role in social communication. Gingerbread, as well as gingerbread molds, are examples of durability, vivacity, continuity of gingerbread craft and industry tradition, which dates back to the 14th century. Their shapes were connected with specific functions they had: decorative elements, gifts, souvenirs. Toruń gingerbreadcookies and cakes are an important part of cultural heritage, not only locally but also worldwide. The paper also refers to the problem of collecting and preserving food objects in museums.

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