Wanda Werminska (1900-1988) - an outstanding opera singer, known as the "mother of Polish opera", in the years 1926-29 she was a soloist of the opera house in Warsaw, then began an international career , performed in opera houses in Europe. During World War II she sang in an Italian company in South America. In 1949 she returned to Poland, where she continued her career. After her work on stage, she was involved in teaching singing, teaching both opera singers and singers, including Krystyna Jamróz, Elżbieta Ryl-Górska, but also singers, including such stars as Irena Santor, Maryla Rodowicz, Jerzy Połomski, among others.
Handwritten dedication in pen(stating: ??? To a Varsovian admirer of beauty, a master of his painstaking art in memory of Wanda Werminska pogwarka) under a photograph measuring 14.8 x 10.1 cm(additional signature in its lower part: Wanda Werminska W-wa 1960 4./IV.), mounted in a sheet measuring 22.5 x 15.5 cm, on the verso of which a stamp: Gabinet of Repair of Works of Art and Artistic Objects Gracjan Lepianko Warsaw, Krak.-Przedm. 10.
Condition: sheet with minor creases, soiling, photograph with minor scratches, spots(ink from stamp on forehead), soiling on surface and slightly damaged margins( from dry mounting).
Gracjan Lepianko (1905 - 15 May 1991) - a Warsaw restorer who ran the Office for the Repair of Works of Art and Artistic Objects at 10 Krakowskie Przedmieście Street for several decades. He graduated from the Schools of Drawing and Painting at 9 Wierzbowa Street, the School of Applied Art at Chmielna Street and the School of Decorative Arts at Myśliwiecka Street, earning the title of master decorative painter and master of artistic metal products. He began studies at the Academy of Fine Arts, but the financial situation forced him to interrupt his studies and take up a job. He became self-employed in 1931 and changed locations several times(before, 1952, he ended up in Krakowskie Przedmieście). He was passionate about sports, training amateur boxing and wrestling. During World War II, a passion for reviving "dead"/destroyed objects awoke in him. He not only repaired but also collected antiques. After the war he became very popular, there were films about him, mentions in the press and guidebooks. Visited by numerous celebrities(of many fields), who sometimes left commemorative entries.
