Vezető a Déri Múzeum kiállításaihoz II. A Déri gyűjtemények. 2. javított kiadás (Debrecen, 2001)

133 THE CRAFT OF TIN AND BRONZE CASTING AND THE GOLDSMITH'S CRAFT POPULAR CERAMICS The little bronze statuettes from the 16th and 17th centuries displayed above the bells are fine examples of the artistic use of bronze. Among them, the figure of Piace and that of Roman fighter probably come from Venice, and the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius is also the work of an Italian master of the 16th century. The two Centaurs and the satyr beating a kettledrum were made in an Italian workshop in the 17th century, while the satyr with a female bacchanalian dates from 18th—19th century France. The earliest mention of pottery in Debrecen dates back to 1555. The charter of incorporation of the guild with age-gold traditions is dated 1574. Starting from the second half of the 18th century, we have ample archival documentation of the history of the trade. We know that, at the end of the 18th century, there were about 100 potters working in Debrecen. The earliest exhibits come from this period of time. The golden age of Debrecen pottery lasted for about a hundred years. From the second half of the 19th century, it gradually declined and it almost entirely disappeared by the 20th century. Our earliest exhibit is from 1760. It is the oldest specimen of clear glazed vessels. At the beginning of the 19th century, the traditional glazed decoration was enriched with a new technical solution: the outlines of motifs were set off through etching. The group of green glazed and embossed vessels represents the next style. This style of decoration on ornamental vessels was known all over the country. This is also illustrated by the decoration of the material in the exhibition, which consists largely of so-called Lord's Table winepots and guild-vessels.