Szilágyi András (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 26. (Budapest, 2008)
Zsolt SOMOGYI: An Adaptable Applied Artist. Pál Horti's American Furniture
thinking] Professor Paul Horti has introduced a touch of inlay work of colored woods or metal, that enlivens the strong simple lines of Mission furniture' 15 ) that connects the enterprise's inlay-embellished pieces of furniture with Horti's name, then the 'Mission Arm Chair' (no. 11) embellished with shield-like elements and stars is a work by the Hungarian artist. This may prove a connection with the firm from the very beginning. On the basis of such an assumption, we can identifyother pieces of furniture as works by Horti. 16 Among these works belongs the 'hall mirror" 7 supplemented by a hat rack that is preserved in the collection of the Cincinnati Art Museum ('no. 222 fi., Hat Rack'; the 'fi' indicates that the artefact was suggested for use alongside another, in this case 'no. 222. Hall Seat', a similarly embellished sofa). The rectangular mirror on a triangular mounting embellished with openwork squares on the 6. Paper Label of the Shop of the Crafters on a Dining Chair. Private Collection, Budapest. Photo by György Kaczúr top is supplemented on each side by an element decorated with inlay. Simple but nevertheless elegant peacock inlay also appears in other products of the factory: we find it on a writing desk and chair ('no. 285. & 285 fi, Desk & Desk Chair" 8 ), and on a table lamp ('no. 149. Mission Library Lamp'). The dark feather 'standing out' from the light ground and the pale peacock's eye both recall one of the Art Nouveau's most important motifs, stylised in form and simplified in colour, adjusted to the Arts & Crafts creations of American furniture art. Other furniture manufactured by the Shop of the Crafters can also be found in the collection of the Cincinnati Art Museum. As well as a sideboard, glazed cabinet and two chairs without arms belonging to the diningroom suite designed by Horti and also found in the collection that has come down to us in Hungary, a Van Dyck clock (Shop of the Crafters at Cincinnati catalogue, 1906.; no number, facsimile edition, p. 63) enriches the collection presenting the artistic life of Cincinnati and at same time enumerating the products of the factory." However, we cannot assert that because Horti designed one freestanding clock for the dining room suite and another for the library suite, every timepiece in the catalogue (and they were produced in a great variety) is the work of the Hungarian artist. Beneath the block-like body assembled from simple slats, the weights and pendulum operating the mechanism of this clock are left free; only the upper third that houses the clockface is enclosed. This face is similar to the type of face seen on Horti's freestanding clocks. An examination of the original 1906 catalogue 20 of the Shop of the Crafters at Cincinnati produced a surprise for the author. The facsimile edition 21 is in vertical format; on each page there are photographs of three to six pieces of furniture on a total
