B. Nyékhelyi Dorottya: Középkori kútlelet a budavári Szent György téren (Monumenta Historica Budapestinensia 12. kötet Budapest, 2003)

Abstract

ed lambel can be found already by Queen Mary of Hungary the wife of the king of Naples (grandmother of King Charles Robert.) The use of the lozenge shield and the three pointed lambel was common in the Neapolitan court, and it was used for a long time. It might also be possible that the tapestry was made in the Neapolitan court itself. It is also known that King Charles Robert had 80 feet red, white and blue textile bought in Naples in order to have six Hungarian royal banners made from them. To compile the wall tapestry did not require specific skills. It could have been made in Hungary too, but the example was to be found in fashion trends coming from the west. Its immediate models have to be found in the arts at the Neapolitan court. It is certain however, that it was not made of reused material, this is excluded by the analyse of the traces of stitches. At the same time it is possible that the tapestry had been cut from a larger piece. The rough cut edges may support this solution. Nevertheless it seems a better idea that the cuts were made in order to repair the pileworn edges. Even if we suggest that it could have come to Hungary by King Charles Robert the question of its function remains unsolved. Some further investigation is needed to claim whether it was related to the pieces with the oakleaf ornament. It might have been part of the coronation accessories, or it might have been used for a wedding ceremony, or it was simply part of the royal funeral. Charles Robert was laid in state in Buda, too. King Louis I cannot be left out from the group of the possible users, as after the death of his brother, Prince Andrew, he made several attempts to obtain the Neapolitan royal seat. It can be proved by several examples that the lozenge shield was spread in the Angevin court of Naples and it can also be found in several cases in Hungary, too. King Charles II cannot be completely excluded either. He arrived from Naples with his claim on the Hungarian throne, and this fact might suggest that he would have brought pieces that had been made in Naples or he could have used the ones here. It is also a fact that the attempt against him took place in Buda which might be related with the period and the end of the use of the tapestry, as the circumstances of finding it do not deny this possibility.