Körmöczi Katalin szerk.: Historical Exhibition of the Hungarian National Museum 3 - From the End of the Turkish Wars to the Millennium - The history of Hungary in the 18th and 19th centuries (Budapest, 2001)

ROOM 10. Hungary in the 18th Century (Gábor Németh)

17. Holies (Hohe) faiance plate, with the figure of a Hungarian hussar, 2nd half of the 18th century for threading corsets and corset inserts. The women's clothing exhibited, which bears the marks of the Hungarian style, was worn by a lady member of the Majthényi family around 1750 (Fig. 18). The sky-blue material, cut from Lyons brocade, is covered with bouquets of flowers sewn from silver thread. Its cut scarcely differs from that customary during the 17th century: merely in the fact that the neckline of the bodice reaches all the way down to the skirt. The apron is bordered with lace. Beside it is a child s suit, which, tradition has it, belonged to Joseph II during his early years. The clothes are for a six- or seven-year-old child; accordingly, they could have been made around 1747-48. The object environment of the aristocracy reflected changes in lifestyle and social life. Instanced in these are objects representing traditions, as well as those dictated by fashion. Among the items of goldsmith's work exhibited is an ornamented piece not for special occasions from the treasury of the Andrássys', a table fountain made in 1743 (Fig. 19). Tankards which fit together by means of their interlocking handles are crowned by a miniature model of Krasznahorka (Krásna Hôrka) castle, a family seat. The painted enamel ornamentation of the vessels indicates that they are the work of a goldsmith from Upper Hungary. The cutglass decanter with silver-gilt mountings dates from the same time. The silver tankard made in a Brassó (Bra§ov) workshop is ornamented with the arms of István Wesselényi and Katalin Bánffy. The individual type of vessel in the style of the time was introduced into the country by the May dynasty of goldsmiths in Brassó (Brasov). The ornamented vessels exalt the craftsmanship of the goldsmiths in the towns of Upper Hungary, but at the same time the vessels for vinegar and oil, sugar sprinklers, coffee jugs and teapots indicate the appearance of new eating and drinking habits. Hung on the wall is a memorial plaque (epitaphium) with silver inlay and richly ornamented with carved elements in relief. A typical aristocratic memorial from the Baroque age, it was put up after 1755 to commemorate Count János Haller, Maria Theresia's governor of Transylvania. During the Seven Years's War, Count András Hadik (1710-90), a renowned general who served both Maria Theresia and Joseph II, held Berlin to ransom with his hussars (October 16, 1757) (Fig. 20). From 1774 onwards he held the post of president of the Hofkriegsrat. His pair of pistols, with gilded bronze fittings, were made on his instructions between 1755 and 1756, by the well-known Karlsbad gunsmith Thaddäus Poltz, who later worked in Vienna. Between the two doors leading to the library visitors can see a large-size painting of Count Antal Kálnoky, a general of cavalry. The plumed helmet and the battlescene depicted in the background refer to the military career of the warrior, who is