Kafle z przedstawieniami królów z renesansowego pieca w Zamku Królewskim na Wawelu .......... 565

TILES DEPICTING KINGS FROM A RENAISSANCE STOVE IN THE ROYAL WAWEL CASTLE

The article examines a group of Renaissance stove tiles from Wawel Royal Castle with depictions of the rulers (“old king” and “young king”), that once formed parts of monumental heating structures in the royal palace. Although no complete 16th century stove has survived, the extensive assemblage of tile fragments enables a partial reconstruction of their iconography, technology, and artistic context. The study reassesses earlier interpretations, situating the Wawel tiles within broader European traditions of portraying monarchs in architectural frameworks and comparing them with Central European ceramic production and the courtly iconography of power. The article demonstrates formal connections between the tiles from Wawel and those uncovered in other archaeological research. Newly identified fragments, thereby enrich our understanding of the original stove program. The analysis highlights the exceptional craftsmanship, sophisticated architectural detailing, and the ideological role of royal imagery within the palace’s visual environment, contributing to a more refined chronology and reinterpretation of these unique artefacts.