Rissengebirge, POLAND - Kirche Wang - Norway / Germany Connection

Description

Rissengebirge, POLAND - Kirche Wang: Wang Church was built at the turn of the 12th and 13th century in Vang, Norway, a city situated next to Lake Vang. In 19th century church was purchased by Prussian king Frederick Wilhelm IV for 427 marks. It was taken in pieces and initially transported to Szczecin and then to the King Museum in Berlin. Finally, it was been moved to the Karkonosze Mountains (at the foot of Czarna Góra in the middle of the way from lower Karpacz to Śnieżka peak) to serve members of evangelical church from Karpacz and surroundings. Wang Church is a priceless old Nordic art creation. Mainly wooden decorations refer to warlike Vikings culture – numerous sculptures present animals, plants and mascarons. Special attention attract Vikings’ faces with cloven tongues (symbolize knowledge and wisdom passing to the next generations) and pinnacles – tenons in shape of open dragon’s jaws (characteristic Vikings’ boats decoration). Wang Church owes its durability to resin-soaked Nordic pine, of which it is made. Since borders have changed of the years and as a result of wars, the church now finds itself in Poland. The card is in good condition, but shows edge wear. There is also a scrape in the upper left hand corner of the card. Carl Dittmar, Breslau. L.B. in B.