Prékopa Ágnes (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 31. (Budapest, 2017)

Ildikó PANDUR: Restoration of Metalwork from the Esterházy Treasury in the Budapest Museum of Applied Arts: Past, Present and Future

9. Detail of the 1965 Esterházy exhibition in the Budapest Museum of Applied Arts, Museum of Applied Arts, Archive

Restoration questions specific to metalwork from the Esterházy Treasury 1

1. The artworks—which include fire-gilded, enamelled metalwork set with precious stones—have been crushed, broken and in most cases severely deformed These were always highly esteemed pieces, related to aristocratic and royal families, closely guarded in the treasuries, from where they were taken either to be presented as a diplomatic gift or to be altered by court goldsmiths at the owner’s request. The damage to the Esterházy pieces is almost unparalleled for metalwork in aristocratic treasuries.

2. The artworks were buried under soil for several years, often exposed to extremes of climatic conditions.

3. Damaged pieces retrieved from the ruins of the palace were mixed up with fragments of similar artworks

Despite the heroic attempts to separate each piece during the two weeks available to recover the treasures from under the ruins after the war, it was unavoidable that at least some of the fragments of similar material became mixed up. Over the years since, there have been constant attempts to sort them out, and every time, new fragments are identified. The medallion of the mother-of-pearl cup39

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