Török Károlyné Miszori Marianna (szerk.): Virággal ékes. A népi bútorfestés hagyományai (Zalaegerszeg, 2012)
A népi bútorfestés hagyománya
The tradition of folk furniture painting On the 21st Century threshold in our world the expression folk furniture painting is not well known. The interpretation of words, their use, the environment and the furniture changed fundamentally over the centuries. This phrase for the rare craft is not used often. So, what was once the folk furniture painting? The old peasant life in the 18th and 19th Century prompted people for self-preservation and subsistence farming. The established domestic industry was flourishing, because at the time every village had its potter, people who knit baskets, shoemakers, women who could spin and weave, wainwright, carpenter and many other craftsmen. Almost every household knew the tricks that were required to learn for a handicraft profession, so they could produce a product at home by themselves. This kind of a profession was the carpenters and the closely connected furniture painting. The gifts of the surrounding forests, the trees the experts of that time using only their own hand tools transformed into furniture. The cabinets, supports for earthen vessels, beds, caskets, tables, chairs, stools, bench chests, benches, hope chests, mallets, picture frames, mirror frames. Hungarian people carry the genes of the decorative instinct. With desire and pleasure they decorated their furniture with flower patterns and other beautiful motifs. Fabulous treasures were created that we can today admire in museums. The term folk furniture painting once meant home-made furniture decorated with flowers. Men’s and women’s work significance and importance was separated, since while the furniture pieces were made by men family members, the women’s responsibility was the painting and decorating, that made the items colourful and personal. The term folk furniture painting once meant home-made furniture decorated with flowers. Men’s and women’s work significance and importance was separated, since while the furniture pieces were made by men family members, the women’s responsibility was the painting and decorating, that made the items colourful and personal. There almost weren’t two identical tulip caskets, but of course many similarities in floral motifs can be found. The former profession of folk furniture painting and crafting almost disappeared in last centuries, but fortunately some successors and experts remained. The main aim of this publication is to inform the reader and to raise awareness and interest for an old profession such as furniture painting which, however, can be restored. Today it is important to give people the opportunity to learn about the long-forgotten art of folk furniture painting. Today restoring old traditions means to build a bridge between ancient traditions and the modern world. The furniture painting, decorating with flowers and the joy for creation gives everyone the experience with the Hungarian culture, traditions and the artist continue to live. 16
