Bedtime Characters on Everyday Objects

Bolek and Lolek even appeared on chewing-gum wrappers. Wojciech Jama’s early collection also included chocolate packaging featuring Maya the Bee, Ptyś, and the Wolf and the Hare. Jacek and Agatka appeared on children’s toiletries: oil and soap. Jama also kept “Ptyś” and “Balbinka” soaps.

His household objects with cartoon motifs included ceramic mugs, money boxes, trays, watches, alarm clocks and thermometers. Books, comics, games and toys brought the characters’ adventures into children’s rooms. Vinyl records carried audio dramas, allowing listeners to meet the characters without a television picture.

The museum’s collection now includes 35 mm slides, film reels, cassettes and records. These media preserve images and sounds in forms requiring different playback equipment. The permanent exhibition also features philatelic items depicting characters and cartoon frames, together with pennants, badges and plaques. A small likeness of a character could accompany a letter or become a collectible in its own right.