to be the biggest in the world”. On that basis the Nusantara Archipelago Museum was founded in Warsaw in 1973. Because of its development and continuous enrichments with objects from other regions, in 1976 the Nusantara Archipelago Museum had been transformed and began a new span of life as the Asia and Pacific Museum in Warsaw. Andrzej Wawrzyniak was assigned as its director and curator-in-chief for his lifetime. Today the museum holds a collection of over 20,000 objects from Asia, Australia and Oceania. Honours and awards Andrzej Wawrzyniak was as an authority in Oriental studies and was a member of numerous Polish and international organizations and associations engaged with problems of the region. Among others, he was a member of the Oriental Studies Committee for the countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America at the Polish Academy of Sciences. Andrzej Wawrzyniak was honored with many Polish and foreign distinctions: Millennium of Poland Decoration in recognition of social activity (1966) Golden Merit “For the commitment to the Union of the Social and Civil Workers” (1967) Chevalier's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1967) Merit of “The Keeper of National Remembrance” (1971) Honorary Merit “For the commitment to the Union of the Social and Civil Workers” (1972) Special Prize of the Minister of Culture in recognition of a long-standing collectorship and museum management activity (1975) Bronze Medal “For the commitment to the State Defenses” awarded by the Minister of National Defense (1975) First Class Medal of Liberation of the Temporary Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam in recognition of his services in the International Commission for Supervision and Control (1976) Medal of Friendship of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in recognition of his commitment to the just case of Vietnam (1976) Honorary Merit “Distinguished Official of the Foreign Service” awarded by the Minister of Foreign Affairs (1978) Award of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria in recognition of his support for the expedition to the peak of Lhotse in Himalayas (1981) Golden Award “Distinguished Physical Culture Campaigner” in recognition of support for the Polish expeditions to the Himalayas (1981) Golden Honorary Award “For commitment to Warsaw” (1982) People's Republic of Poland 40th anniversary medal awarded by the President of the State Council (1984) Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1985) Prize of the Capital Warsaw (1987) First Class Medal of the “People’s Tribune” daily in recognition of a long-standing