A Nyíregyházi Jósa András Múzeum évkönyve 48. (Nyíregyháza, 2006)

Régészet - Fábián László: Melith Mansion in Csenger and its Renaissance glazed tiles

Fábián László From archive and other sources we can trace the gradual demolition of the mansions. By the 1800s, nothing remained from these buildings. The place was mentioned as a hill overgrown with bush and acacias. In April 1935, Dr Sándor Gallus started excavations at the territory of the so-called „Castle Hill". Both mansions were unearthed and the accurate ground plans made on the spot justified the inventory of 1713. Unfortunately, archaeological finds, among them „ stove tiles found in great variety " were demolished during the Second World War. After the excavation debris was levelled, and that was the moment when fragments of tiles were dispersed on a large territory. This situation became only worse during the construction works of the High School, when fundament and cellar were dug. The chapter dealing with the mansion is followed by the material connected with tiles. Unfortunately, until now, only those pieces had been published, that could be well determined or were interesting from some aspect. Tiles from the 16

th and mainly from the 17

th century are less known. The starting point of the author was Anna Gyuricza's study published in 1992, dealing with Renaissance stove tiles of Northeast Hungary, mainly with archaeological material of small castles. The Melith castle of Csenger belongs to this group. Publishing the present material the author would like to add new data to this topic. Tiles and fragments found in Csenger, were mostly decorated with ornamental motifs. There are pieces related to Renaissance cassettes with central compositions. We also know some figurái fragments. In the territory close to the mansion we meet only pieces with green glaze, while at the more distant part (former High School) the majority of tiles are represented by unglazed ones. The question of Haban type tiles found in the yard of the Museum has not been solved yet. The same is the case with the defective, burned, shapeless tiles and pieces of clay found at the bank of the Szamos river. A map published in the study displays the spread of tiles, the concentration of sites, the situation of mansions, showing the unearthed fundament walls. Finally, the study shortly deals with cup shaped tiles found in a great number and variety both in the surroundings of the mansion and in other parts of Csenger. Stoves with such tiles did not become the part of folk furniture either in Csenger, or in the Great Hungarian Plain. The article is completed with the catalogue of the displayed tiles and fragments. Translated by Valéria Kulcsár László FÁBIÁN Museum of Local History in Csenger H^1765 Csenger Hősök tere 3. e-mail: fabi.laci.jani@freemail.hu 310