Achaeometrical Research in Hungary II., 1988

ANALYSES - METALS - László GERE - László KÖLTŐ: Application of X-ray emission analysis in late medieval and early modern age archaeology

Chandelier retainer screw No. 5, chandelier branch No. 4 and the copper plating of holding shaft No. 6 contained 9-10 % less zinc and twice the amount of antimony, 1.49 % instead of 0.75% as candle ring 1 and candle-holder 2. Neither the composition nor the burial time of the chandelier fragments are identical. Still, there is a significant similarity in their compositions, which may suggest that they were made in the same workshop district and belonged to chandeliers of identical constructions, although they were not produced at the same time. The chandelier could be reconstructed from Jan van Eyck's painting 'The Arnolfini wedding' (Plate 2.1; VÉGH: 1994). The candle-ring on the chandelier in the painting from 1434 is identical to the specimen from Ozora, the candle-holder, however, is not angular but cylindrical. A similar piece was found in the Kőszeg castle together with the candlering (HOLL 1992: 61, fig. 170, note 127). A cylindrical candle-holder that could have been attached to he candle-ring was not found at Ozora. Imre Holl regards the hexagonal or octagonal candle-holders to be later than the cylindrical type (HOLL 1987-88: 189). The human-shaped candlestick from Borsod county (that earlier originated from Szendrő), with an angular candle-holder in its hand is dated to the beginning of the 15th с It could be demonstrated, however, that the candle-holder was put subsequently into the hand of the statuette for the sake of an exhibition (GEREVICH 1971: 143). The humanshaped candlesticks, nevertheless, attest to the early dating of angular holders. The human-shaped candlestick from Jászágó contained 70% copper, 14-15 % zinc and the same percent of tin together with some minor amounts of lead, antimony and nickel (FODOR 1984: 168-170). The aforementioned composition is very close to that of the chandelier from Ozora, the only difference comes from the greater amount of tin. The candle-rings of the human-shaped candlesticks had an identical structure to the chandeliers' as suggested by items from Munich and Skofja Luka, dated to the beginning of the 15th с (BOJANA 1978:180). The only difference between the candle-ring of the chandelier in the St. Jacob church in the Hague and the Ozora one in that the upper part of the former strongly protrudes, it is almost dish-shaped (MIROSLAV 1986: 224, fig.4). The technical literature agrees that the relevant group of gothic candlesticks was made in South Germany, mostly in Nürnberg, the centre of local metal works. Both analogues and its composition date the chandelier fragments from Ozora to the beginning of the 15th с They must have been bought in Flanders or in southern Germany and installed in the castle at the order of Pipo of Ozora. Rinaldo degli Albizi, deputy of Florence recalled their beauty in 1426 (BALOGH 1966: 323, note 4). The reconstruction sketch of the chandelier can be made from the fragments recovered and the chandelier depicted in the painting. Only the 3.5 cm long inner part of the chandelier branch has been preserved. It was attached to the drum through a downwards narrowing 'foot' at the end of the branch (Plate 1. 4 b-c). The branch was riveted to the canals -ring and the candle-holder through a small protuberance at the lower part of the ring at the bottom of the holder, similarly to the candle-ring from Kőszeg. The chandelier branches were clasped into the rails, created on the regular 12-angled central part of the drum (Plate 2. fig. 2. III/A-B). The downwards narrowing feet got stuck in the rails and so fixed the branches. The drum was composed of several parts which were attached to a single shaft. The elements were fixed to the upper, funnel-shaped widening of the shaft (P1.2, fig.2.I) with a decorated screw-nut which closed the drum from below (P1.2. fig.2.IV). The relatively narrow chandelier shaft had to bear a rather heavy weight, so it must have been made of iron. The existence of a shaft is attested to by the lower part of 142