Kovács Petronella (szerk.): Isis - Erdélyi magyar restaurátor füzetek 6. (Székelyudvarhely, 2007)
Kiss Hédy: A Székely Nemzeti Múzeumban őrzött zászlók állapotfelmérése
cotton lining. It is a deposit of the Székely Mikó College. The banner is composed of red white and green stripes of identical sizes. The edges are fringed, and each a tassel can be found at the free comers. On the obverse, an interior frame of cornflowers embroidered with gold threads encloses a picture field, in which a round medallion framed with embroidery bears the inscription: „SEPSISZENTGYÖRGYI/ REFORMÁTUS/ SZÉKELY MIKÓ-KOLLÉGIUM/ 1908”. [Calvinist Székely Mikó College of Sepsiszentgyörgy/1908] Folk motives are embroidered on the right and the left sides of the medallion with white and silver threads. Outside the frame, tulips are embroidered with threads of the same colour as the banner. On the obverse, the symbols of the college can be seen: a shield red at the top and blue at the bottom. In the shield, a Sun embroidered with gold threads can be found in the middle on the left side and a Moon embroidered with silver threads facing it on the right side. A wreath of oak branches embroidered with gold threads can be seen above the shield with the inscription „LEGYEN VILÁGOSSÁG” “foit lux” in a ribbon under it. The symbol of thee letters “E” can be found in a round frame of ornamental embroidery in the left lower comer. The colours of the embroidery threads are white, silver, gold, green and red. Military standard, inv. no.: 1888. Two-sided flag of two satin leaves from World War I. It is lined with sleazy cotton. The upper stripe is light blue, the lower one is yellow. The inscription on the obverse is embroidered with red threads: „SEPSISZENTGYÖRGY R.T. VÁROS KÖZÖNSÉGE/1914./A CS.KIR.2. GYALOGEZRED 3-IK PÓTSZÁZADÁNAK”. [The community of Sepsizentgyörgy R.T. town/1914/to the 3rd reserve company of the 2nd imp. royal infantry] A faded painted inscription can be read under the yellow part: „1914 ÉV” [year 1914]. This suggests that the inscription was first sketched and then embroidered. The reverse is composed of three red, white and green real silk stripes. The fringes on the free edges were made of metal threads, and each a tassel made of two kinds of gold threads prepared on a wooden frame decorate the free comers. Flag of the masons and carpenters ’ association, inv. no.: 1885. The single-sided cotton banner of simple weave was made of a single leaf having three forks. It consists of three red, white and green stripes of identical sizes. A metallic cord trims the edges. It was nailed to the pole. In the central field, the small coat-of-arms of Hungary can be seen in the white stripe. Under it, the tools of masons and carpenters can be found enclosed by two green-leaved branches crossed at the stems. Silver ornamental cords and ribbons were used for the shaping of the crown and the coat-of-arms. The shield is composed of stripes made from the tricolour material of the flag. Red, silver and green embroidery threads were also used. The crown is decorated with red, white and green polished stones. Flag of the tanners ’guild, inv. no. 1886. Single-sided pure silk flag made of a lined single leaf composed of red, white and green stripes. It probably came from the time of the revolution of 1948/49. It has three forks. The gold inscription was made with a pattem: „SZ.GYÖRGYI TÍMÁR CZÉ”. [Tanners’ guild of Sz.György] Underneath, the following inscription arches upwards: SZ. MÁRIA ISTEN ANYA MAGYARORSZÁG VÉ”(-DŐJE). [St Mary godly mother Hungary’s patron]. The Hungarian crown embroidered on red velvet in the central field is decorated with a silver cord, ribbons, metal inlays and red, white and green glass beads. Fringes of metal threads decorate the free edges and originally probably red white and green nappy textile tassels prepared on wooden knobs sat at the ends of the forks. Flag of the tailors’ guild, inv. no: 1884. The apprentices of the tailors’ guild of Sepsiszentgyörgy (Sfintu Gheorghe) used the single sided, three-forked flag made of a single leaf composed of red, white and green stripes as members of the National Guard during the revolution of 1848/49. It was made of plain linen. The forking edges are trimmed with a redoubled red-white and green ribbon. The coat-of-arms of Hungary with the crown can be seen in the central field with an inscription under it stitched with tricolour cords: „A S. SZ. Gyi. N. Szabó Cz. 1848”. The crown and the shield were prepared from patches of the material of the flag completed with thin and thick silver threads and spangles. We found during the assessment that the majority of the flags were spotted and dirty, the raw materials, apart from the linings, got thinned, and they were poorly preserved, torn, broken and incomplete. The embroidery and the fringes made of metal threads got oxidised. A few items were improperly strengthened with patches. All of them needed imminent restoration. Until then, in order to prevent further deterioration, the storage places were disinfected it was suggested to store them horizontally spread on a flat, neutral surface, protected from dust, strong light and UV light and at steady humidity and temperature: 16-18C°, RH 44-52%. After restoration they should be exhibited for only shorter periods in a horizontal or slightly inclined position in glass showcases and protected from UV light. Hédy Kiss Textile artist and restorer National textile restoration expert Bánát Museum Timişoara 91
