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

the closing screw (PI. 1.5) and the copper plating of the shaft above the drum (Plate 1.6). The traces of a saw-cut offer evidence of subsequent dismantling. The distance between the geometrical axis and the candle-ring is 29 cm. It stands closest to the Bavarian foot from among medieval units of measurement, which equals 29.186 cm. It is noteworthy since one of the possible places of production of the chandelier is Nürnberg. Candlesticks - II, II/A, III, IV. groups (Plates 3-4. fig. 2) The 13 candlestick fragments recovered can be divided into 4 groups on the basis of their compositions and form. Group II. contains balustrade candlesticks and those with a balustrade grip inserted over a vase (PI.

3.1-7). Candle holder No.II.l. (Pl.3.1.) with a balustrade grip is closest in its composition to the chandelier elements in group I., which suggests that they are chronologically somewhat older than the balustrade grips inserted over a vase. The angled holder of a multi-branched candlestick shows a composition similar to the balustrade handles inserted over a vase. The composition of candlestick foot II.

6. (Pl.3.6) is nearly identical to that of the candle-holder of a balustrade grip No. ILL The candlestick grip and foot of group Il/A (P14.1-2) are highly similar to the former one both in composition and measurements. Some minor discrepancies, however, as e.g. the high silver content, indicate that they might have been produced in another workshop centre. The two workshops could not be far from each other either in space or time. The two large balustrade candlestick grips inserted over a vase classified in group III (Pl.4.3.4) differ from the previous groups not only in their bulkier shapes but also with their higher zinc ratio and a decline of lead and antimony contents below 1%. Turkish candlesticks from group IV. (Pl.4.5-6) are separated from the products of the realm of Christian cultural heritage, both by differences in form and a high lead and antimony content. The balustrade-grip candlesticks were buried at Ozora at the end of the 15th с and the beginning of the 16th с The time of production and their use can be put to the 2nd half of the 15th с This dating corresponds to the find material from Buda (HOLL 1987/88/2: 189). The balustrade grip candlesticks are represented on Diirer's carving 'Mary's birth' from 1503, which supports the above dating (HEINZ 1978). It cannot be exactly determined, when the balustrade grips inserted over a vase appear. Such candlesticks at Ozora can be dated to the end of the 15th с or first half of the 16th с considering that they were buried in the 17th с The two candlestick fragments in group III. can be dated to a somewhat later period, to the middle or the second half of the 16

th с The grips of two candlesticks made in Memming in 1588 remind of the Ozora items (FRITZ, without date: 51). The flat, conical footed candlestick foots with wide candle-rings (Pl.3.6) appeared in the west-European find assemblages as early as the beginning of the 15

th с Such a candlestick foot can be seen in Van Eyck's paintings 'Mary's Annunciation' and 'Madonna with reading child' (VEGH: 1992). The same candlestick foot can also be seen in the aforementioned carvings by Dürer. This candlestick foot type spread in the 2nd third of the 15

th с and its production and use must have lasted until the first third of the 16th с The earlier pieces are somewhat higher, the candle-rings somewhat narrower. Having remained in use for a long time, they may have been fixed to various grips and holders. Candle-stick foot II/a/b (P1.2.), although looks identical to the previously described specimen in terms of its construction, its shape is different at several points. The hole bearing the grip widens, the part between the foot-ring and the candle-ring narrows. Similar candlesticks are known from from 16

th-17

th с find materials. Also a similar can143