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This is the first tarsoly cover
plate found in a ‘Return Home’ grave.
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Photo: József Hapák,
data: Ancient Hungarians, Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum 1996
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Provenance:
Galgócz, former Nyitra county of Hungary, now Slovakia, on
the estate of Count Ferenc Erdõdy not far from the river
Vág
Discovery of the finding:
In the summer of 1868, during the digging of a trench, the burial
of a man and his horse was found. Ferenc Kubinyi jr. showed the
surviving finds to Flóris Rómer, who otherwise had
an idea of the true function of this plate. ‘a silver shield-shaped
plate, similar to the cover of the Hussars’ sabretache, riveted
on to leather with rivets and small hooks.’ Rómer -
influenced by Tivadar Lehocky, presuming that the plates, found
in 10th century Magyar graves were headgear finials – later
modified his original opinion. Count Erdõdy donated the finds
to the Hungarian National Museum.
Material:
Gilded silver plate.
Size:
130x112 mm.
Preparation method:
After the main contours of the pattern were traced with a sharp
tool, the plate was placed on a bed of pitch and the background
of the design was sunk into the metal with the use of a hammer.
A silver ribbon border was riveted around its edges with twenty-three
silver rivets, which also held the plate to a backplate of base
silver and the leather tarsoly lid. The edge of the palmette leaves
was chased with a graver, while the veins of the leaves and tendrils
were made with a punch. The lines symbolising the veins end in a
dot. The background once hammered back was lavishly gilded. The
brilliant workmanship reflects the work of a highly skilled craftsman.
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Photo: József Hapák,
data: Ancient Hungarians, Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum 1996
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József Huszka: History of the Magyar Turanian Ornamentation |
Artwork:
The ornamentation of the Galgócz tarsoly plate is made
up of palmettes divided by an infinite scrollwork pattern. The
scrolls are composed of four upward spiralling tendrils: the rhomboidal
space in the centre of the looped tendrils is filled with a cinquefoil
palmette unfurling from a short stem. The entire pattern is finished
off by a similar palmette, and a pair of matching palmettes with
shorter leaves, fill the two upper corners. The open spaces at
the bottom and the top are filled with eight semi-palmettes. This
pattern is similar to the one of the tarsoly plate of Szolyva.
Usage:
Only slight traces of wear can be noted. The gilding of the ribbon
border has worn off during usage.
Inventory number:
Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum, Budapest - 42/1871.3.
Literature:
Rómer 1869, 1871; Hampel 1900, 533-535, 781-782; 1905,
II, 456-458, III, Taf. 338; Fettich 1935, 14-15, Photo No.9; 1937,
77, LI-LIII. t.; 1942, 13, taf. 9; 171. t.; Dienes 1967, 15; 1972,
60, 2-3. t.; László 1970, 62-70, Fodor 1979, 66-67;
1975, 255, Photo No. 67; 1982, 301, Pl. XXXVI; 1994, 12, Fig.2.
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The provenance of the tarsoly finding can be found
on this map detail of Nyitra county from 1913.
Source: Map-collection of the National Széchényi Library
of Budapest
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The tarsoly cover plate of Galgóczi 
