Skrynia antique and souvenir shop, Kolomyia

Skrynia (“The Chest”) is an antique and souvenir shop in the historic centre of Kolomyia, at 23 Teatralna Street. The name fits: inside it really feels like an old Hutsul dowry chest where generations kept their most precious things. The small ground-floor room of a town house is filled from floor to ceiling — old tableware and lamps, ceramics, tiles, carved wooden items, embroidered towels and little figurines. This is a place for people who love browsing and hunting rather than grabbing a fridge magnet on the way out of a museum.

Why visit Skrynia

The shop sits right next to the National Museum of Folk Art of Hutsulshchyna and Pokuttia, so many people discover it by chance after a tour. Visitors write that it is hard to say where they got more impressions — in the museum or here, because you want to walk round every shelf several times and look at each figurine and plate. Skrynia is rated 5.0 on Google Maps for its unusual selection, atmosphere and reasonable prices. You can find a gift here that you will not see in ordinary souvenir kiosks.

What you can find

• Old household items — tableware, lamps, boxes and small objects from village houses and town flats.
• Ceramics and tiles with Hutsul and Pokuttia motifs, painted plates and mugs.
• Woodwork — carved caskets, plates and inlaid souvenirs.
• Figurines, vintage porcelain and collectible trifles, plus souvenirs with views of Kolomyia.

The antique section changes constantly — what you see today may have found a new owner by tomorrow.

Kolomyia, a town of crafts

Kolomyia has long been the trading centre of Pokuttia and the gateway to the Hutsul region: ceramics from Kosiv and Pistyn, woodcarving, lizhnyky blankets and embroidery were brought here for sale. That is why the town has the world-famous Pysanka Museum and the museum of folk art, and why its weekly night embroidery market draws buyers from all over Ukraine. Skrynia continues this tradition on an intimate scale: a little flea market with soul where old and new crafts live side by side.

How to hunt for treasures in an antique shop

Take your time: walk round twice and look at the lower shelves and in the display cases — the most interesting things are often not in plain sight. Ask the seller about an item’s origin, approximate age and any maker’s marks. For fragile ceramics and porcelain, ask for secure packing. Remember that taking genuine antiques abroad may require a permit, so check with the seller before buying a present for friends outside Ukraine.

When to come

The shop keeps daytime hours and closes earlier on Saturday and Sunday, so plan your visit for the first half of the day, especially at weekends. The best moment is straight after the museum, while your impressions of Hutsul ceramics and carving are still fresh — it makes it easier to judge the pieces on the shelves and decide what you want to take home. If you are looking for something specific, such as an old jug or a tile from a particular area, call ahead: the sellers will tell you whether they have one at the moment.

Practical information

• Address: 23 Teatralna St, Kolomyia.
• Hours: Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00, Sat 10:00–15:00, Sun 11:00–14:00 (per Google Maps).
• Phone: +380 50 255 9060.
• Getting there: Kolomyia is on the Ivano-Frankivsk–Chernivtsi road, about an hour from Ivano-Frankivsk by car or local train; from the railway station it is a 10–15-minute walk to the centre. The Museum of Folk Art of Hutsulshchyna and Pokuttia is next door, so the visit pairs well with a museum tour.

At a glance

• Address: Kolomyia
• Opening hours: Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00, Sat 10:00–15:00, Sun 11:00–14:00
• Season: All year round
• Prices: From inexpensive souvenirs to collectibles; reviewers call the prices reasonable
• Phone: +380502559060

Photos: lh3.googleusercontent.com.