[ART DECO] Second Polish Republic – Upper Silesia – Commemorative Lamp for the Polish Army from the Dębieńsko Mine (Polish Army, Mining, Interwar Period, The Twenties)

A floor lamp with a vertical, slender design. The body, shaped like a long tube and supported by a solid hexagonal base featuring a single rectangular shelf, is topped by a light fixture with a round shade. On the base is an inscription reading: “A gift from the Dębieńsko Mine to the Polish Army.”
Metal
Dimensions: 175 x 62 cm at the highest and widest points
Condition as shown in the photos
This lamp is an example of prestigious industrial craftsmanship from the period of the Second Polish Republic, when manufacturing facilities—including mines—actively participated in building relationships with state institutions, particularly the Polish Army. Objects of this kind served as honorary gifts, underscoring the importance of heavy industry to the young state as well as its military and economic potential.
The dedication referring to the “Dębieńsko” mine situates the object within the context of the Silesian industrial region, one of the key mining centers of the Second Polish Republic. Items of this type, often produced as single pieces or in small batches, combine practical value with symbolic meaning—serving as a testament to the relationship between industry and state institutions.
The object holds significant documentary and collectible value, fitting into the category of institutional memorabilia and material traces of the culture of the Second Polish Republic.
The “Dębieńsko” mine was one of the major mining operations in Upper Silesia, located in the area of present-day Czerwionka-Leszczyny. Its origins date back to the late 19th century, when, during a period of intensive industrialization in the region, the exploitation of hard coal deposits began.
In the interwar period, following the partition of Upper Silesia and the annexation of part of the region to Poland, the mine found itself within the borders of the Second Polish Republic and functioned as a vital component of the Polish mining industry. It was one of the facilities supporting the country’s economic development and, indirectly, its military potential, which explains initiatives such as the funding of gifts for the Polish Army.
After World War II, the mine was nationalized and continued its operations as part of the state-owned industry. In the second half of the 20th century, it underwent modernization and was integrated into larger mining enterprises. It ultimately ceased production in the early 21st century.