Gyulai Éva - Viga Gyula (szerk.): Történet - muzeológia : Tanulmányok a múzeumi tudományok köréből a 60 éves Veres László tiszteletére (Miskolc, 2010)

GYŰJTEMÉNYEK - IPARMÜVÉSZET-TÖRTÉNET - Petercsák Tivadar: Az egri fertálymesteri bot és köpeny

The wand and cloak of the quartermasters of Eger The institution of quartermasters existed from the early 18th century to the mid-20th century in Eger. The men of the town's different quarters annually elected the quarter's representatives, the quartermasters (fertálymester) who remained in office for one year. At first, six quartermasters were elected; later, as the town grew and new quarters evolved, their number increased to fourteen. Initially, the quartermasters assisted the town officials in collecting taxes, in publicising the council's decrees and in keeping law and order in their respective quarter. The social prestige of the post grew considerably by the 20th century: in addition to keeping traditions alive, the quartermasters became an important institution of social networking and social help. Described and discussed here are the two symbols of the quartermasters, their beribboned wand and cloak, based on the artefacts in the collection of the Dobó István Castle Museum. The eight quartermaster's wands were carved from wood: they are 90-173 cm long and each bears the names of the quartermasters and their time of office, either inscribed or carved into the wand, or inscribed onto a small metal plaque riveted to the wand. The wife of the quartermaster who stepped down from the post tied a colourful ribbon with the name and date around the wand. The new quartermaster received the wand together with the black broadcloth cloak with silver buckles. The sewing of the cloak was financed by the quarter, although wealthier quartermasters often had a cloak made for themselves. The quartermaster regularly participated in ecclesiastic and civil events wearing the cloak and bearing the wand, as well as on the occasion of public oath-swearing, held on February 9. The study also presents the entries and photographs in the surviving records of the town quarters, together with a list of the names appearing on the wands and the ribbons in order to present a detailed and reliable picture of this centuries old institution, Tivadar Petercsák 263