Witold Tokarski is a retired actor who spent most of his professional life at the Wilam Horzyca Theatre in Toruń.
He graduated from the PWST in Kraków in 1954, and in the same year made his debut in Aleksander Fredro’s Dożywocie at the Stefan Żeromski Theatre in Kielce. After five years, he moved to the Pomorskie Land Theatre – Toruń Stage, led at the time by Hugon Moryciński, and worked in Toruń until his retirement in 1996.His passion for collecting began with a mid-19th-century pouch that Mr Tokarski’s wife received as a gift from the daughter of her friend, Halina Rygierówna. Incidentally, Halina’s father, Edmund Rygier, was an actor at the Toruń theatre, and later his son Jerzy became its director.

Witold Tokarski made his Toruń debut as Romeo, and the above-mentioned pouch was part of his costume. It has remained a highlight of his collection to this day.

Another important step in discovering his passion for collecting was his contact with the Numismatic Department of the District Museum in Toruń, with its curator, Teresa Karczewska, MA, and the renowned numismatist Prof. Marian Gumowski. This led, in October 1962, to the founding of the Numismatic Club at the Polish Archaeological Society. After Prof. Gumowski’s death and Ms Karczewska’s departure, Witold Tokarski became the Chair of the Club. When the Polish Numismatic Society was established, the Toruń Branch formed a 15-member Numismatic Section, and Witold Tokarski went on to serve as its President for 42 years. He was later appointed Honorary President for life. Toruń numismatists funded a commemorative plaque for Prof. Marian Gumowski, which now hangs on Szeroka Street, the city’s main pedestrian area.

Witold Tokarski is also a member of the Zawisza Czarny Collectors’ Club in Bydgoszcz, where he serves as President; the Club continues to operate to this day.

His collection has been shown at many exhibitions, including:
– Orders, Decorations and Medals for the 70th Anniversary of Regaining Independence, District Museum in Toruń
– Decorations and Badges of the Polish Army, District Museum in Toruń, Kamienica Pod Gwiazdą
– Regimental Badges of the Polish Army 1920–1939, Museum in Grudziądz
– Exhibition for the Polish Army Day, Pomeranian Military District in Bydgoszcz

Jarmarks and fairs also could not take place without Witold Tokarski and his collection:

The Dominican Fair in Gdańsk – 18 years of having a regular stand, which became a friendly meeting spot for actors such as Witold Dębicki and Sławek Lewandowski. The stand was also visited by Leszek Sławoj Głódź, Lech Wałęsa, and the late Jan Lityński, who once bought a spoon there.

The St. John’s Fair in Poznań – a long-standing regular stand, often visited by Bolesław Idziak of Studio Byrscy, Janusz Michałowski (collector of oil lamps), and Krystyna Feldman, who liked to stop by for a cigarette and a chat.

The Nadwiślański Fair in Grudziądz – another permanent stand. It was there that Witold Tokarski received the President of Grudziądz Award for first place in the competition for the most interesting stand at the second edition of the Fair.

The Katarzynki Fair in his hometown Toruń – the area under the Arcades was “bargained for” specially for collectors.

Witold Tokarski was also known for conducting auctions:
– at the headquarters of the National Board of the Polish Numismatic Society
– he was invited by Mariusz and Aleksandra Dmochowski and Zofia Kucówna to run a historic auction of three sets of silver coins donated by the National Bank of Poland to support Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki
– at Toruń’s Artus Court, he conducted an auction as part of the March Action of Hope, where an album signed (and kissed) by Grażyna Szapołowska was put up for bidding

To this day, he serves as a consultant to scenographers regarding uniforms and decorations used in productions staged not only at the Toruń theatre.

Link to the article in Dziennik Toruński: https://nowosci.com.pl/uratowal-zycie-zonie/ar/11322383

Prepared by
Julia Bromberek