Prékopa Ágnes (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 30. (Budapest, 2016)
Edit DARABOS: Altera Theca continens.A Research Into Historical Leather Cases made for Esterhazy Treasury Items
An analysis of the gold tooling on the cases, and an overview of analogues In addition to archive resources, the cases themselves constituted a major part of the research, specifically the gilding tools that were used to decorate the cases, which were surveyed, classified and compared with potential analogues. Beginning in the sixteenth century, cases were decorated using the similar gold tooling method adopted from bookbinding, and changes in the style of bookbindings can also be observed on such cases, which were produced either by bookbinders or by specialist case-makers.30 The tools used by the masters who decorated the cases can be regarded as unique items, made to order in the workshops of metalsmiths.31 Individual types of tool, each fashionable in their own day, can be found in countless variations, but as they differ in size and in detail, they are relatively easy to identify. Like bookbindings, cases can also be grouped into periods according to the tools used, despite the fact that certain types of tool were in use for a lengthy period of time, often spanning more than one style period.32 Cases were classified into groups of sixteenth-, seventeenth- and eighteenth-century cases, based on the tools they bear; the logical next step was to compare them with the items of fine metalwork they are associated with, which are often only approximately dated. The majority of cases from the Esterházy treasury are adorned with seventeenth-century tools, while a smaller number have tools that are typical of the eighteenth century, and there are even a few cases which are not decorated at all, which were presumably made for journeys undertaken in the nineteenth century. Direct analogues uncovered during research revealed connections between the Esterházy cases and partner pieces found in seventeenth-century cabinets of curiosities or in contemporary representations of them in museums. In addition to these correspondences, further pieces bearing affinities with Esterházy cases have been found, although the scope of this study is limited to a presentation of only some of the findings. I will therefore concentrate primarily on outlining the research methods, the limitations of the research, and future opportunities. The cases which, on the basis of their gold tooling, can be assumed to stem from the late sixteenth or early seventeenth centuries, and which are mostly located now at Forchtenstein, cannot, in every instance, be positively associated with a specific object. They feature sparsely placed tools, supplemented with bands of arabesque decoration. The leather covering of the case for the Rock crystal covered cup, which is now only known from an archive photograph, is divided longitudinally by straight lines, interspersed with imprints of rosettes or vase of flowers motifs, using gold, silver foil or blind tooling.33 The fragmentary label Termés Christa... {Natural[rock] Crystal...) also testifies to its association with the object. Another leather case, also in Forchtenstein, could be associated with a winged figure probably similar to the dragon-shaped rock crystal object, but its age and style do not verify this matching.34 Among the sparsely placed tool imprints can be seen an acorn, a rosette, and a lion with a raised paw.35 Several cases deserve particular attention because of the fine metalwork objects they held. One concerns the case for an Ostrich Egg cup in the shape of Ostrich 35
