Ludwisarze pogranicza śląsko-łużyckiego Georg Wield I i Georg Wield II oraz ich działalność na przełomie XVI i XVII wieku
Georg Wield I and Georg Wield II: bell-founders of the Silesian-Lusatian borderland and their activities at the turn of 16th and 17th century

Summary/Abstract: The paper presents profiles and contributions of two bell-founders – Georg WieldI (Sr.) and Georg Wield II (Jr.), who worked in the Silesian–Lusatian–Bohemian borderland at the turn of 16th and 17th century. In this period, many changes regarding campanology of this region occurred, encompassing alterations in bells’ shape, as well as in style of ornaments and forms of inscriptions placed on bells. Georg Wield I, son of Hans Weld Sr.,was born in Jáchymov and then moved to Szprotawa, where – as a burgher of this city – he commenced bell-founding. In 1593 he settled in Żytawa, where he entered the maturestage of his professional development. He was active as a bell-founder not only in LowerSilesia and Upper Lusatia, but also in neighboring Bohemia, where he worked, i.a., for the mighty von Redern family, casting, among other works, the bell for the Frydland castle. He died presumably in 1607, and his son, Georg Wield II (Jr.), took over the trade. Younger Wield continued the tradition of bell foundry and pewter-making in Żytawa, casting bells for local churches, as well as for more distant towns and villages. His activity in this trade is confirmed since 1608. Periodically, he collaborated with his paternal uncle Hans Wield Jr.Like his father, he provided services to the von Redern family. On the contemporary Polish territory bells casted by members of the Wield family, made with outstanding precision and meticulousness, can be found in the following towns and villages: Brzeźnica, Konin Żagański, Konotop, Skibice and Zawidów. The Lower Silesian voivodeship (province) is still poorly researched regarding campanology, and required studies on both bells and bell-founders.

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