THE FAMOUS "KONIAKOWSKIE" TABLE RUNNERS ORIGINATE FROM THE KONIAKOW REGION OF POLAND. THESE WORKS OF ART DATE BACK 200 YEARS.

IN THIS AREA OF POLAND, LADIES WHO HAVE CONTINUED THE NEEDLEWORK TRADITION WHEREBY NO TWO ITEMS ARE THE SAME AS NO DEFINITE PATTERNS

ARE USED; INSTEAD, THEY ARE MADE USING MOTIFS INSPIRED BY NATURE. THESE LACE PIECES WERE MADE ORIGINALLY FOR THE TABLE OF KINGS,

ARISTOCRATS AND BISHOPS; HOWEVER, IN RECENT TIMES, SUCH PIECES WERE PRESENTED TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II AND POPE JOHN PAUL II AS GIFTS FROM

THE PEOPLE OF POLAND. THESE PIECES ARE USUALLY GIVEN AS HEIRLOOMS.