Wiłkomirski Kazimierz -musician, pedagogue [photo: Dorys], 1966

Kazimierz Wiłkomirski (1900-1995) - a member of a very musically talented family. His father (Alfred), also a musician, founded the Wiłkomirski Trio in 1913, in which his children, Kazimierz, Maria and Michał, performed. For 10 years they gave 58 concerts, until Michal left on a scholarship in 1925 .After 1945 Michal was replaced by his half-sister, Wanda. He graduated with honors in conducting and composition. In addition to occasional performances in a trio, he was a cellist with the Warsaw Opera from 1919, and in 1926-34 was the first cellist of the Warsaw Philharmonic (also a conductor from 1927). After the war, he was artistic director and conductor of various opera houses and philharmonics (in Gdansk and Wroclaw), and performed in foreign theaters. Juror of national and foreign competitions. A long-time pedagogue, he began 1917 and continued at various universities until 1981 (still taking courses later). Winner of numerous awards and honors. Since 1991, the Youth International Cello Competition named after him has been held on a biennial basis.

Handwritten dedication in pen (stating: To Mr. Gracjan Lepianko, with sincere appreciation for his artistry. K. Wiłkomirski Warsaw, 14.V.1966.) underneath a 13.4 x 8.9 cm detachable photograph(verso stamp B.J. Dorys Art.-photographer, Warsaw, Nowy Świat 29, Copyright reserved,1966), pasted on a sheet measuring 22.9 x 15.9 cm, on the verso of which stamp: Gabinet for the Repair of Works of Art and Artistic Objects Gracjan Lepianko Warsaw, Krak.-Przedm. 10.

Condition: sheet with minor creases, soiling, photograph with minor scratches, traces of writing on it (imprinted text), soiling (from ink?)

Author of the photograph- Jerzy Benedykt Dorys (1901-1990)- one of the most famous Warsaw photographers. He was a co-founder of the Union of Polish Art Photographers (ZPAF) in 1946, exhibited at numerous solo and group exhibitions, received many awards and national decorations. A respected portraitist, Polish luminaries often appeared before his lens.

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, obtaining 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.