Kovács Petronella (szerk.): Isis - Erdélyi magyar restaurátor füzetek 7. (Székelyudvarhely, 2008)

Herceg Zsuzsanna: Új anyagok, új eljárások a szilikátalapú műtárgyak restaurálásában

Hédy M-Kiss

Banner collection of the Guild History Museum of Kézdivásárhely in 2005

Guilds of tanners, boot-makers, cobblers, furriers and potters worked in Kézdivásárhely from the second half of the 16th century. Handicrafts started to decline in the 18th century when the members of the guilds were recruited and the operation of the guilds was reformed. Nevertheless, a new flourishing of guilds could be witnessed in the first half of the 19th century. This was the period when butchers, harness-makers, tailors, joiners, hatters, braziers and hammers-locksmiths were organised in guilds. In 1872, guilds were dissolved in Hungary. They were, however, reorganised because of the absence of industrial plants. They were allowed to work until 1948 when the capital equipments were nationalised in Romania. Eleven guilds and 3 unions existed at that time in Kézdivásárhely. The banners of 7 guilds and 5 banners of the guild of firefighters have survived, which are preserved in the Guild History Museum.

1. Banner of the fire brigade, inv. no: B/XX/1. The onesided banner is composed of two leaves of red satin with golden fringes. A tassel of metal threads is at the upper comer. The symbols of the trade of the fire brigade, a helmet and two crossed fire-hooks enclosed by an olive branch are embroidered in the centre. The inscription „Árkosi önkéntes tűzoltó egylet” [Voluntary fire-fighters’ union of Árkos] runs underneath in an embroidered frame. The red painted pole is decorated with golden depressions and a wooden sphere. Flag studs can be seen on the pole in three rows. The finial is white tin. Condition: Mould spots can be seen on the textile, it is dehydrated and tom, the fringes are oxidized and they loosened at several places. A tassel is missing.

2. Banner of thefire brigade, inv. no: B/XX/2. The onesided mass-produced banner is composed of two leaves of red satin with yellow textile fringes. There are tassels at both comers. A round emblem of the fire brigade can be seen within a red twisted cord frame on side “A” with the inscription „PENTRU PAZA CONTRA INCENDIILOR” [to the fire-guards] in Romanian embroidered with yellow rayon thread under it. A coiled hose, a five-branched star and two crossed nozzles are depicted in the base field. An ear of wheat is depicted on the right side of the medallion, while a pattem of angular cogs can be seen on the left side. The inscription „F.P.C.I.” is placed at the bottom. The inscription „FORMAŢIA VOLUNTARA DE PAZA/CONTRA INCENDIILOR/A ORAŞULUI/ TG. SECUIESC /1873” [Voluntary fire guards of the town of Kézdivásárhely 1873] is embroidered with yellow rayon thread on side “B”. The leaf was fixed to the black painted pine pole with 3 flat-headed tacks and with 2 shields under the finial. The metal plaques with names belong to banner no. 5. Condition: it is a well preserved 25-30 years old banner coloured to a purplish claret shade. It is dusty.

3. Banner of the fire brigade, inv. no: B/XX/3. It is

nearly identical to the above one only the emblem of the fire brigade and the inscriptions are simpler on side “A”. The inscription „FORMAŢIA VOLUNTARA DE PAZA/CONTRA INCENDIILOR/FRUNTASA PE JUDET” [Eminent voluntary fire guard of the county] is embroidered with yellow rayon on side “B”. The leaf was fixed to the pole stained to a red colour with nails. The finial is almond-shaped with a metal frame coated with copper. Condition: It is a well preserved 25-30 years old banner coloured to a purplish claret shade. It is dusty.

4. Banner of the fire brigade, inv. no: B/XX/4. The damaged leaf was renewed in a museum in Bucharest in the 1980’s. The medallions, the ornamental ribbon and the fringes were preserved from the original banner. On side “A”, the equipment of fire fighters, the helmet, the fire-hook, the axe, the ladder and the safety rope were embroidered with silver-coated, gilded, yellow, brown, white and black threads in the lined white silk medallion framed by the old ornamental ribbon. It bears the inscription “Önkéntes tűzoltó egylet” [Voluntary firefighters’ union] on the top and the name “Sepsi Szent György” at the bottom. The portrait of Louis II King of Hungary and Bohemia can be seen in a round medallion frame enclosed by oak leaves. A crown with stone inlays is represented above it. The Latin words „KR1STUS SPES MEA” [Christ is my hope] run on top of the frame, and the date “1509” can be read under it. The end of the gore of a canon, the end of a gun-barrel with a bayonet, the tip of a sword, a dmm, a bugle and a banner are placed around the frame. According to the traces of the stitches, the original red, white and green banner must have been larger and oblong-shaped. The actual base of the banner was made with sewing together the original white base and a red and a green textil. As opposed to the picture on side “A”, the colours of the embroideries and the base are more vivid since the banner was probably exhibited with this side against the wall because of the undesirable picture. The silk ribbon has two branches, and it is framed with a gold cord. The backside is new red rayon. Its inscription runs: „A.S.Sz.Györgyi önkéntes tűzoltók. 1891.” [Voluntary fire fighters of S.Sz.György, 1891] and „Háry Gyuláné Kain Mária”. The bow is simple. The brown pole is composed of two parts which were fit together at the turned spherical ornament. It is ornamented with longitudinal grooves coloured with gold and flag studs in four rows. The brass finial is lance-shaped. Condition: the medallions are dusty with spots of mould, they are tom, discoloured showing the ran red colour of the original base material. The ribbon is cmmpled, the fringes are missing. The rod of the banner and the tip of the finial are missing.

5. Banner of the fire brigade, inv. no: B/XX/5. The two-sided new red and blue banner is composed of two leaves of rayon. The original measurements can be judged from the nails on the pole that fixed the banner and the length of the gilded trimming cord that was preserved from the original banner. The medallion on side “A” probably belonged to the original banner. It shows the

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