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

A newly discovered ceramic fragment from the decoration of the castle chapel portal in Althaus (Starogród), unearthed during archaeological excavations in Kulmerland, challenges previous assumptions about the role and significance of ceramic architectural sculpture in the Teutonic Order's State in Prussia. This small but significant finding suggests that such sculptures were more widespread than previously believed, not just as symbols of rank and power, but also as integral elements reflecting the 'genius loci'—the defining spirit or character—of the architecture from the first phase of construction campaigns by the Teutonic Order. The discovery, part of the project Castra Terrae Culmensis (2017), provides new insights into the types, manufacturing techniques, and layers of meaning associated with figural decorations in castles such as Marienburg (Malbork), Elbing (Elbląg), Thorn (Toruń), and Graudenz (Grudziądz). This fragment, dating to around 1300, offers a rare opportunity to revise our understanding of ceramic sculpture in this historical context.

Raczkowski, J. (2018). 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. Ordines Militares Colloquia Torunensia Historica, 23, 339. https://doi.org/10.12775/om.2018.012