Szilágyi András (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 25. (Budapest, 2007)
Magda LICHNER: Early Works by Gyula Kaesz: His Designs for the Parish Church of St. Nicolas at Muraszombat /Murska Sobota
3. Design of a candlestick. Archive of the Research Institute for Art History, Budapest Museum of Applied Arts. Csänyi lectured on the history of architecture at Budapest’s Technical University, and also visited Hungary’s historic monuments with his students. Csanyi and Kaesz had become acquainted earlier on when both had taught at the School of Applied Arts after 1919.111 Following correspondence and successful cooperation with Dr. Ljudevit Sornen, a lawyer and the senior lay official in the parish, in 1930 the newly reconstructed church ordered from Gyula Kaesz a design for a Holy Sepulchre, to be built in the chancel for Easter Week. Despite contact lasting for years, agreement and the drafting of many different designs, this particular project was not carried into effect. Nevertheless, the documents that have survived demonstrate that a certain change in style occurred between the placing of these two orders.20 Kaesz designed the electric light installations and candleholders without visiting the site. Károly Csányi brought him the ground plan of the rebuilt church now reinforced with concrete elements, and also plans of the edifice in cross-section. These presumably told of the character of the new building. Kaesz’s designs used a sculpted leaf, foliage and flower ornamentation that was based largely on the motifs found on 17th- century metal-thread embroideries, i.e. those embellished with gold and silver. The forms are rather restrained, with the various plans for the candleholders recalling details - albeit greatly simplified - found in the goldsmith’s work of the Romanesque and Gothic periods. As the prototype and inspiration of the chandelier we may perhaps mention the example in a room made in the Budapest Studio, part of an interior published in the journal Magyar Iparművészet. In OLTARKAHOE LAB<J) 4. Design of a candlestick for an altar. Archive of the Research Institute for Art History, Budapest 126
