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
fortification was financed from the royal treasury. Another interesting element related to the Báthory family is the presence of the Drágffy coat of arm at the Tärgu Mure§ friary. It is important to mention that the closest analogy of this stove tile was found in Nyírbátor at the headquarters of the Báthory family. Based on the known written sources we know that the Drágffy family had no properties in the wider region of Tärgu Mure§. Therefore it seems that the donation of two stoves, one with polychrome glaze, the second with green glaze and non glazed tiles was donated through the connections of the Drágffy and the Báthory family. The presence of the Drágffy coat of arm in Nyírbátor can be explained through family connections, the two families were close relatives at the end of the fifteenth century. The family connections could be the explanation of the Drágffy donation for the Tärgu Mure§ friary. The stove tiles were produced not in Nyírbátor but probably in one of the urban workshops, probably Kassa. The presence of the coat of arm of Sibiu might give important clue about the production place at least for a part of the green glazed stoves. The coat of arm of the town could be part of a donation but more likely it represents the production place, a trade mark about the origin of the stove. The eagle representation on a green glazed stove is again very particular. In the center of the tile fragment we have an eagle its head is turned to right and in its right wing holds a coat of arm representing a second eagle. This second eagle could be the representation of the Transylvanian coat of arm but we do not exactly know the context because on the missing part of the fragment there was placed a second coat of arm, therefore on the tile we had two coat of arms combined. Unfortunately we have no analogies for this stove tile hopefully further research will reveal the missing element of the tile. The engobe painted stove tile represented the coat of arm of the Barlabássy family. The tile was produced in a local workshop and it has excellent analogies in the market town of Cristuru Secuiesc (Székelykeresztúr).10 The simple tile offers information regarding the wealth of the family; they could not afford the donation of an expensive glazed stove. The stove was probably produced in a smaller workshop in a market town (could be also Tärgu Mure§). This type of tiles and stoves were pretty often used in urban context and in market towns. The quality of the stove tiles therefore reflects on the social status and wealth of the family as well. The use of the heraldic symbols represents the will of a family or a political entity to show their influence, wealth and social status. Therefore in case of a medieval friary the appearance of such objects and representations offer information about the possible donors and political connections of the particular institution. We can presume that the presence of such representations on furniture, or architectural elements has two important messages. One is obvious, informs the visitor about the wealth and piety of a family, the second message refers to the strength, influence and connections of the respective institution (friary). The first message let as know who where those families who financed a religious institution and the quality of the stoves proved the wealth of the family. The second message is addressed to those nobles or wealthy burgers or pilgrims who visited the friary, telling that it is worthwhile to invest here. If the influent Báthory or Bethlen families donated to this friary it strengthens the guarantee that your donation will serve the salvation of your soul in other words it is a blessed place. This aspect was strengthened by the fact that the friary was a pilgrimage place dedicated Coat of Arms Representations on the Stove Tiles of the Tärgu Mure$ Medieval Franciscan Friary 203 10 Benkő 1992, 150-186.
