Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 29/3. (2009)
Soós Zoltán: Coat of Arms Representations ont he Stove Tiles of the Târgu Mureş Medieval Franciscan Friary
COAT OF ARMS REPRESENTATIONS ON THE STOVE TILES OF THE TÁRGU MURE§ MEDIEVAL FRANCISCAN FRIARY Soós Zoltán Mure? County Museum, Tärgu Mure? Coat of arms representations are widely used decoration motives in late medieval Europe. One can find these symbols on buildings, clothes, weapons, books, rings, furniture, etc. Coats of arms were very often used symbols representing mainly the greatness or richness of the respective person or family. Some of them became decoration elements such us the lily symbol of the Anjou dynasty that was still widely used in the late fifteenth or in the sixteenth century but it lost its original context and significance. From the second half of the fourteenth century stoves became an important part of the furniture of a room or of a residence. A stove was a display of various motifs, symbols and decoration elements, besides biblical scenes and representation of saints one can find geometrical and architectural decoration and scenes influenced by the fashion, everyday life such as knights, lion and kings representation as well. From the mid fourteenth century stoves slowly replaced the open fireplaces or other heating installations such us hypocaust systems and became part of the royal or aristocratic residences. From the early fifteenth century stoves were integrated into the urban culture and the towns displayed their own set of symbols (coat of arm) preserving most of the representations and scenes. At the end of the fifteenth century they were wide spread and used even in rural areas having a far simpler outlook than the stoves found in the aristocratic residences. By the early sixteenth century stoves became pieces of art, having their own iconography and set of symbols. A stove is composed of three major parts, the base, the middle part and the upper crown. The base contained stoves with geometrical, floral symbols or stoves having the figure of knights, coat of arms. On the middle section one could see biblical scenes, figures of saints, coat of arms etc. The third part, the crown, usually had a decoration on the top of the stove displaying floral, geometrical, mythical figures surrounding the middle which ended up in a conic form decorated with triangle shaped stoves. In some cases coat of arms were placed on the upper corners of the stove’s lower side as well. By the late Middle Ages building a lavishly decorated stove was a serious investment and usually high aristocracy or royal court could afford this kind of luxury. In several cases one can find such expensive items in monasteries, friaries or bishopric palaces. In friaries the appearance of glazed, decorated stoves can be connected to donations of rich aristocrats or in some cases as the donation of the king. Some monasteries and bishops were wealthy enough to M A R I S I A XXIX, p. 199-210
