Treasures Recollected
Treasures Recollected

Summary/Abstract: Treasures of the Esterházys: Five Centuries of Art Works from the Collections of the Princely Line. Exhibition at the Museum of Applied Arts, Budapest, 13 December 2006–30 December 2007 Treasures have always excited people. The aristocracy and the wealthy sought to acquire them, those who could not wondered at them, dreamed of them, told tales about them and, of course, envied those who owned them. The proud possessors were obviously well aware of this envy and strove to keep their treasures safe and under protection, especially those that were not in everyday use. Hence the existence of treasuries, to which no one, apart from the owners and invited guests, would be admitted, and where even the cleaning of their contents, one imagines, was carried out in strict security. That in itself was a prime breeding ground for conjecture and fantasy. The consequences can be seen to this day. Whether at the Old Seraglio in Istanbul, the former residence of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, or the Hofburg in Vienna, the former residence of the Habsburg emperors, or indeed the Tower of London, the longest queues are those snaking in front of the treasuries, despite all the many other attractions on display. The glitter and glint of gold, silver and precious stones, the reverence and dignity that these symbols of monarchical authority radiate, draw crowds like magnets.

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