Kothencz Kelemen: Kovácsok kézjegye (Monumenta Muzeologica 4. Baja, 2012)

XIII. Idegen nyelvű összefoglalók

XIII.

IDEGEN NYELVŰ ÖSSZEFOGLALÓK

Kelemen Kothencz

The „Signatures” of the Blacksmiths

The works and organizations of the blacksmiths in Sükösd in the 19th century

(Summary)

In order to keep record of their works blacksmiths used a large book (kon- tós-könyv in Hungarian) in the 18-19th century. The official term for these books varies between taxbook and mortgagebook.

Due to a rare luck three of these blacksmith-taxbooks from the first half of the 19th century have been found in the Hungarian town of Sükösd near to Baja. The fact that these books were kept by the same blacksmith family makes them really valuable. The first taxbook dates from 1818 to 1834, the second was used between 1826 and 1846 while the third has records from 1838 until 1852.

The study at the beginning of this volume makes it clear that these blacksmiths were not only extremely skillful professionals but also they were very intelligent craftsmen of their age. Besides the records of their works and their balances the taxbooks contain accurate logs of the expenses of the crops and the animals of their farm and their wineyards.

These three documents were written by many different blacksmiths from three different generations which enables the reader to have an insight to the organization and the work of this craftsmen dynasty. Generally, the oldest blacksmith was allowed to enter logs into the book but sometimes his son could register data as well. The first taxbook was started by Ferenc Nemeth in 1818 who had been working with his son Janos whose entries can be found from the second half of the 1820’s. Adam Nemeth, the son of Janos Nemeth, was keeping the third taxbook from the 1840’s ownwards.

With the analysis of these sources we are able to witness the legacy of a craftsmen family in a small village. The readers can also gain information about the life of the blacksmith workshop through the logs of their works and the register of their customers. The archbishop of Kalocsa was among their regular clients, they had a different section in the books only to keep records of the works carried out for the archbishopry. The craftsmen were trading well with their fortunes, they were able to open and maintain a ship mill on the river Danube with some of their business partners. Also they could afford to have farm hands, servants and maids which is another sign of their wealth.

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