Szilágyi András (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 27. (Budapest, 2009)

Emese PÁSZTOR - Márta TÓTH - Anikó PATAKI - Andrea VÁRFALVI: Turkish Cases from the Esterházy Treasury

I /"-ft 3. Archive photograph of a bow-case in the Esterházy Treasury at Förchtenstein that was covered with red velvet and appliqué made from silver-gilt sheeting. (Museum of Applied Arts, Budapest, Archive, lnv. photonegative. 2193) on a velvet ground (fig. 1, left-hand side)

18 and an arrow-case (quiver) of similar description (fig. 2, right-hand side), and finally a

skóy?«w-embroidered black leather bow-case (fig. 2, left-hand side).

1'' The whereabouts of these artefacts is today unknown. The Museum's archive likewise keeps an old photograph of a seventeenth-century velvet-covered bow-case from the Esterházy collection decorated with silver-gilt appliqué (fig. 3). A near variant of this piece can be found today in the Karlsruhe collection.

2" However, from the art historical viewpoint much more interesting for us than the simpler or more decorated 'everyday' cases are those pieces considered by our forebears to be 'worthy of a grandee'. On festive occasions grandees in Hungary and Transylvania used horse-gear, weapons and cases suitable 'for show or dignified locations'. Covered in silk velvet fabric or with silk fabric shot with silver, embroidered with silver-gilt wire (skófium

), decorated with silver-gilt appliqué along with precious stones and pearls,

2

1 or covered with sheet metal featuring enamel, precious stones or openwork on the entire surface of their outer side,

2

2 these cases counted as indispensable accessories of aristocratic pomp. Also, as elements of decorated horse-gear and weaponry fitting for special occasions, they symbolised, by means of their special execution and value, the wealth and power of their owners. With regard to Prince Gábor Bethlen of Transylvania (1613-1629), we know that, as well as many other artefacts, he had especially costly and luxurious weapons - including bows, arrows and cases - purchased

2 ' and in some instances made

2

4 in Istanbul. Many of these he later gave away as presents. In records kept by Pál Bornemissza, his envoy in Istanbul, there is a reference in 1622 to the acquisition of a total of six cases, five bows, majc (wold