A Móra Ferenc Múzeum Évkönyve: Studia Ethnographicae 2. (Szeged, 1998)

Markos Gyöngyi: Tímármesterség Hódmezővásárhelyen

Tannery in Hódmezővásárhely GYÖNGYI MARKOS Hódmezővásárhely is one of the largest towns in the south of the Great Plain. Though most of the inhabitants still live on agriculture, industry also plays an important role. In Hódmezővásárhely after the Turkish occupation and 'resettling' in 1693 the development of handicraft was determined by two factors: the raw material available and the demand on the product. Generally the crafts meeting daily needs developed quickly, such as tannery, furriery, bootmaking and pottery. This paper, divided into smaller units, focuses on the historical-ethnological data of tannery in Hódmezővásárhely. The general preface treats the history of tannery in Hungary. Tanners and bootmakers prepared the leather and made simple footwear since the Middle Ages. By the 19th century aluminous currying of tanners and tannic currying melted into one. Under the title Guild history the history of the tanner guild in Vásárhely is discussed. Before its foundation, 1823, it belonged to the tanner guild of Szeged organised in 1774. János Makola was the first guild master. Guild founders, leading masters are introduced Conditions of engaging an apprentice and journeyman and of becoming a master and producing a masterpiece are discussed as well. The changes in tannery are demonstrated by the different raw materials, technology and products. The trade law of 1872 abolished guild system. The tanner guild became a craft-union on 24 June, 1872. By the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century the number of tanners working in the town rapidly decreased. With the decline of traditional lifestyle tannery disappeared giving its place to modern industry. 46