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The tarsoly cover plate of
Kiskunfélegyháza

Leather tarsoly

A váz több csontja és a lócsontok elkallódtak.

The tarsoly cover plate of Kiskunfélegyháza

Photo: József Hapák, data: Ancient Hungarians, Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum 1996

Provenance:
48, Radnóti Miklós street, Kiskunfélegyháza, Bács-Kiskun county.

Discovery of the finding:
In the spring of 1970, while digging the foundation for a house, the grave of a warrior buried together with his horse was found. No further graves were found there. Only some of the leg bones and the grave goods associated with them remained in their original position. The other skeletal bones, as well as the horse bones, found earlier, were lost.

Material:
Silver gilt foreplate, copper backplate.

Size:
Tarsoly cover plate and backplate: 115x108 mm, buckle: 10x17 mm.

Preparation method:
The plate was made of an extremely thin silver plate. A cast silver, ribbon border is riveted to the plate. The details of the predrawn design were worked out from one side, with the help of a puncher. The area between the designs was deepened. The deepened areas of the background and the border ia outlined with gilding.

Detail of the tarsoly cover plate of Kiskunfélegyháza

Photo: József Hapák, data: Ancient Hungarians, Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum 1996

Drawing of the tarsoly cover plate of Kiskunfélegyháza

Csaba Nyers: Introduction to Corn Kitchen

Artwork:
The upper borderline is slightly wider than the ones at the sides, differently ornamented as well. It is decorated with a series of lunates. The side border is grooved with parallel lines, forming a line of quadrates. The plate has a foliate design with a central palmette from which sprout side-shoots that curl back to the main stem. The profusion of palmettes fills the entire surface, creating the impression of a single plant (The Tree of Life). The scrolling tendrils spring from the lowermost palmette bunch whose leaves run parallel to the border and curl back to join the main stem. Closest parallels to this plate are those of Tarcal and Túrkeve. The small buckle, with a copper tongue and an oval cast silver ring were probably the part of the tarsoly’s closing unit. The copper tongue most likely is a later addition. There are two small rivets on the reverse by means of which it was attached to the belt.

Usage:
Traces of wear and repair can be observed on its surface. Museum experts completed the plate during conservation.

Inventory number:
Katona József Múzeum, Kecskemét - 73.1.53,52.

Literature:
H. Tóth 1974, 122-125.

Detail of a former map
The provenance of the tarsoly finding can be found on this map detail of Pest-Pilis-Solt-Kiskun county from 1930?.
Source: Map-collection of the National Széchényi Library of Budapest

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