EN
This is the first work dealing exclusively about the so-called Velour de Genes on the walls o f five chambers in the oldest part o f the Wilanow palace, although these valuable historical monuments have been mentioned both in the oldest palace inventories and the numerous monographic studies on Wilanow. When in the last quarter o f the seventeenth century the original owners o f the palace — king Jan III Sobieski and his wife, queen Marysieńka — decorated their suburban residence, they closely followed the current fashion, and covered the walls o f the rooms with patterned Italian velvet. After the death o f the monarch in 1696, these valuable coverings were removed. The deserted palace in Wilanow was purchased 24 years later by Elżbieta Sieniawska, a close acquaintance o f the royal family, who decided to restore the former appearance o f the residence. She soon expanded the palace and assured its good technical condition; the bare walls o f the chambers were to be covered by fabrics resembling their predecessors. When Sieniawska died in 1729, this plan was continued by her daughter Maria Zofia Denhoffowa, who purchased fabric for the Royal Bedroom, different from the covers secured earlier by her mother. The fabrics, supplied by Andre Contessa, were barely sufficient for a modest outfitting of four rooms. Four of these fabrics can be regarded as belonging to the so-called Velours de Genes group. They are woven of silk, with large floral patterns against a rep background, threaded through with silver and gold metallic strands. The velour patterns of blossoming branches, executed from shorn velvet, are framed with velvet with untrimmed knots. The later fabric, with a less distinct pattern, resembles French fabrics from the first quarter of the eighteenth century. After the second world war, when Wilanow became state property, the palace and its outfitting, including all the fabrics, were carefully conserved (1955-1962). At the moment, more than 30 years later, thorough conservation is required once again.