Endrei Walter szerk.: Textilipari Múzeum Évkönyve 8. 1995 (Budapest, 1995)
dr. Márta Járó: Manufacturing technique of gold threads and their imitations on museum textiles - chronology of the preparation of metal threads. Results of the scientific investigations
the number of data obtained up to now is not yet sufficient to the complete verification of this assumption. In course of further research work, a special attention should be paid to the analysis of metal threads from the 15-16th centuries. On basis of the historical data and of the results of examinations carried out up to know, the copper threads plated with noble metals appeared already in the 16th century in Europe and their use can be followed up to the 19th century. It can not be decided yet, because of the small number of examination data, whether the gold-plated, resp. of the gold- and silver-plated copper, i.e. of the copper covered with a double layer of noble metals appeared simultaneously, or in time separably in the preparation of metal threads. No sufficient data are available yet also for the assessment of the time, from which brass or tombak was used as basic material for the preparation of metal threads. Schleicher announces, referring to Bredetzky, that according to an account book from the town Pozsony, the brass wire had been used in Hungary already in 1440 [64]. The examination data confirm that this type of wire had been used at the same time for the preparation of metal thread as well, at least in Hungary. It can not be excluded that strips necessary for the preparation of metal threads had been cut even earlier from brass foil. The cementated copper wire is most likely a product of the 18th century. The chronology modified on basis of our research work is shown on Figure 7. In this table I have indicated - for sake of completeness - two metal thread types that I have not discussed in this article, metal threads prepared by the combination of metal and organic material. tombak, brass gilt and/or silvered copper membrane gold leathergold gilt silver (from wire) gilt silver (from foil) gold ? Hllllililll - B.C. 1000 0 A.D. 1000 m = period of use on the basis of scientific investigations ill = period of use on the basis of contemporary sources {without investigation data) Fig. 7 The chronology of metal thread making on basis of the scientific investigations and of contemporary written sources, resp. of descriptions given in art historical works
