Szilágyi András (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 27. (Budapest, 2009)
Emese PÁSZTOR - Márta TÓTH - Anikó PATAKI - Andrea VÁRFALVI: Turkish Cases from the Esterházy Treasury
ANDREA VÁRFALVI The Restoration of a Seventeenth-Century Arrow-Case (Inv. no. 52.2880) from the Esterházy Treasury Description of the artefact, production technique This arrow-case is smaller 5' than the bowcase presented above. With regard to shape, it becomes narrower in the middle, but then in two lobes broadens slightly to the right. The stylised floral motifs that embellish the surface match those that are visible on the bow-case (fig. 5, right-hand side). The bottom half of the case's front side, which is embroidered with wine-red silk velvet applique and metal thread, is covered by a side pocket. The technique used in the making of the metal-wire decoration was similar to that used in the making of bow-case no. II: the silver gilt and silver wire was, by means of maras and zerduz stitching, attached to the III/l. Bagazia visible on the back side of the embroidery, with silk couching threads underneath the damaged paper layer cotton twine padding affixed to the ground fabric. 6 0 The design was drawn on taffeta placed on the blue bagazia (in the case of the applique parts, the taffeta was placed on velvet). Three different designs came into being on the surface by means of couching performed with silk thread. 6 1 The designs are framed by stem stitch sewn using silk thread and by twisted metal cord. The thin layer of paper placed underneath the fabrics probably performed a strengthening function (fig. III/l). The curved bottom part of the case was strengthened by means of a wooden wedge in the shape of an elliptical cone. The back panel of the goatskin-lined case was made from calfskin. The leather pieces were sewn together using double flat stitch. The edges of the artefact were bordered by strips of wine-red parchment. Made from four uncoloured and brown (once red?) plaits, the flax cord found on the back of the artefact allowed the arrowcase to be attached to the belt of the wearer. The tables below summarise the properties of the materials making up the arrow-case. 6 2 Layers comprising the embroidered ground: 6 5 Paper Ground fabric linen-weave, blue cotton (bagazia) 99
