Szirácsik Éva (szerk.): A Magyar Mezőgazdasági Múzeum Közleményei 2016-2017 (Budapest, 2017)
Szőllősy Gábor: Archaikus szíjgyártó megoldások egy régi típusú szügyhámon a Magyar Mezőgazdasági Múzeum és Könyvtár gyűjteményében
ABSTRACT Archaic harness maker’s techniques on an old-style breast harness in the collection of the Museum and Library of Hungarian Agriculture Gábor Szőllősy Novel solutions on horse tack had already appeared by the second half of the 19th century. Surviving artefacts rarely feature older technology. There is only one item of horse tack in the collection of the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture on which archaic solutions can be studied. The tack was made in 1954 by Imre Szabó, a master saddler from Szeged, by the order of the National Horse Breeding Board. The complete tack made for a pair of horses was originally the property of the Komárom State Stud Farm. During the reorganisation of horse breeding in 1961-62 state stud farms were abolished, which is how the museum acquired the tack. The parts of the double tack made for a pair of horses: two bridles, two breast harnesses with traces, two neck-straps, two leather halters and reins for a team of two. The tack itself was made of plant-tanned leather in a natural colour, with simple brass buckles and flat button studs, but with indented straps. The most characteristic feature of the harness is the set of tassels combining the cut-out and braid techniques, of which there are three each on the bridles and one each on the backhands. The backhand is soft, without tightening. There are no iron parts at the intersection of the trace and the backhand, and the girth is absent as well. The reins were also made using a technology that is almost forgotten nowadays. The most archaic feature is the so-called bracelet to which the reins are attached. The blinkers of the bridle are decorated with pinking and a flat copper button in the middle. The cut-out and braided brow tassel is sewn into the browband. The similar ear tassels are suspended from the upper buckle of the cheek strap. The design of the halter is particularly unique and unusual. A large brass ring is sewn into the lower end of the neckstrap, with a so-called herdsman’s lace. The strap of the neckstrap is attached to the ring with the same lacing. These lacings are probably the most attractive feature of the whole set. The so-called Szeged harness is made particularly valuable by those technical solutions that nowadays can only be learned in practice from a few masters. Thankfully this old-fashioned tool has been acquired by a public collection, and can be studied by future generations. 230
