Count John Nepomuk Charles Krakowsky of Kolowrat through the Perspective of the Inventory of the Březnice Castle

The preserved inventory of the Březnice castle from 1853 represents an important source to gain new insights regarding the interior designs of this old aristocratic residence. The furnishings of the particular chambers and rooms were designed to fit their purpose and the requirements of the nobility who used to live there. The representative rooms as well as the private chambers of the residence owner, John Nepomuk Charles Krakowsky of Kolowrat, were furnished with furniture, decorations and every-day-life and other objects which, due to their costly processing and magnificent ornamentation, complied with the Counts' social status. The furnishings reveal also a lot about his level of education, cultural overview, leisure activities and personal preferences. The castle inventory also mirrors his aspiration for self-presentation. This proves a wide range of luxurious, often upon request manufactured and accordingly ornamented vessels and pots that were equipped with his monogram.We can learn more about the life of the nobility in the Březnice castle by exploring the operational parts of the residence where the servants and the castle staff worked. The inventory of the objects in the kitchen and storage rooms, accompanied by accounting records and cookbooks allows us to gain insights into the eating habits and taste preferences of John Nepomuk Charles and his guests. The inventory of Březnice castle from 1853, and books that were kept in the local kitchen, prove that John Nepomuk Charles actually visited and utilised the residence, even though his main country house and residence was at that time the little castle Hradistě by Blovice. Březnice served therefore as a prestigious representative residence where he invited his noble companions and organised a vast range of festivities.