Kerekešová, Sylvia et al.: Főúri terítékek az Andrássyak asztalán. Kiállítás a Szlovák Nemzeti Múzeum Betléri Múzeumának gyűjteményéből (Eger, 2003)
Dining at the Andrássys’ Table An Exhibition from the Collection of the Slovak National Museum's Betlér Museum The István Dobó Castle Museum Eger, 29th May - 2 1st September, 2003 Although eating customs and table-laying habits go back to ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman times is only from the 16th century that one comes across surviving examples of china and silverware. Whilst there was a time when formal eating took place in the spacious dining rooms of aristocratic residences, palaces and castles on a daily basis, from the 16th century one finds dining going on in smaller more intimate surroundings. Those who could afford themselves such luxuries would provide their guests with silver plates and dishes and silver cutlery. Í In the I 7th century most plates and dishes were made of pewter, known at the time as "poorman's ", Pewter, however, had one great disadvantage, it was more pliable than silver. This meant it was more liable to get damaged and consequently required frequent replacement. It was a problem which was overcome with the emergence^ the china industry. I| was, in.Spain, Italy and France that the manufacture of delftware came to the fore. During the 18th centuw the emerging urban middle classes began to imitate aristocratic eating habits, something which resulféd/fff these habits spreading throughout Europe. the beginning of the 18th century the alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger discovered the secret of making porcelain. He fqynded a porcelain factory in Meissen, just north of Dresden, which proved to be the first pf many in EuropeTAvftstacratic families took great pleasure in both using and collecting fine pieces of mm lain made in both Ewroeand the Far East. / JJi Apart the being attraaive to look at the porcelain and chinaware, the silver and pewterware on display swlow both the high leyp of craftsmaRshi|^M^the tastes of the owners. Most of the objects on display belonged to thç-Andrassy family, Wno dpmte being of Transylvanian stock lived in Gömör County. The tableware pays horrage to a time when/aristocrats would meet up for the world-famous Betlér (Betliar, Slovakia) hunts or important jïmily occasions to feast in what were pleasant and refined surroundings. The objectswn display now nme up part of the collection of the Slovak National Museum's Betlér Museum. The good relad'ons whicK have existed between the two institutions over the last few decades has j meant that tl}Mstván£)obó Castfe Museum now has the great honour of showing this beautiful and valuable /collection to^fie ^neral publié. 23
