Ridovics Anna: Történelem pipafüstben (Budapest, 2019)
9. VÉNUSZ AJÁNDÉKA. A TAJTÉKPIPA / GIFT OF VENUS. MEERSCHAUM PIPE
Vénusz ajándéka. A tajtékpipa meerschaum and pipe-carving business dosed in 1902. (Fig212) Some of the most beautiful engraved meerschaum pipes of the time came from the Donáth shop, marked with DONÁTH or a letter D in relief at the stem opening. He supplied his customers with pipes of great variety in subjects and styles. He specially prefered historical representations. One of the most remarkable of these is the one carved after the painting by Sándor Wagner. (Fig. 215) In 1859, Sándor Wagner painted his composition of the story of Titusz Dugovics, the hero who sacrificed his life for his homeland at the battle of Nándorfehérvár in 1456. It became very popular by mass-reproducing as an engraving. It expressed the demand for a moral example of a national hero. The large, artistically carved pipe was made by an unknown master. The head of Diana stamped on the lid dates it as post-1867. (Fig. 216) 9.18 ART OF EMIL SPIRO István Bárczy appreciated the sculptural works of Emil Spiro (died 1926) - he was the last Hungarian pipe-carver artist. Emil Spiro was one of the most prolific, talented masters in Pest. His signature is almost always found on his expertly carved works, sometimes spelling the name SPIRO or SPIROEM. The name Spiro is first encountered in the Adressbuch of Pest in 1815, among the names of ten masters of pipe carving (Pfeifenschneider). The Pest Address Book, published in 1822, lists six masters under the heading Pfeifenschneider but none is the same as those mentioned in 1815. Here is another member of the Spiro family.94 The Spiro family of Greek descent had been involved in the pipe-carving craft for more than a century, but the pipe with this name was not known before. Edit Haider assumes that Ede Spiro (1 790-1856) was also related with this family. According to the catalogue of the 1885 National Exhibition, Etelka Spiro worked as meerschaum carver from 1881. But no more information about her.95 According to one of the entries in the Diary of the Mixed Industry Association in 1896, Spiro began his artistic career as a helper in the workshop of Sándor Donáth90. He received his Pipe Carving Industry Certificate in 1917, but by then he had been working for several pipe carvers and merchants. According to existing documents, Spiro was employed only by Sándor Donáth. From 1908 to 1917 he probably took orders as a „free artist", sculptor, and pipecarver. Emil Spiro had a great sense of style, he was asked to make different types or styles of pipes, and he always did a great job. Most of his pipes were sold by Donáth, but he also made pipe carvings for other orderers. The satirical, neo-baroque style Bacchus-pipe, celebrating intoxication and sensuality, was marketed by Feldsberg. On the pipebowl are depicted glass lifter fat Bacchus, shapely nymph and impish Pan playing on his whistle. (Fig. 217) He made special flat-shaped, similar types of historical-themed pipes for the shops of Berger, Novágh and Donáth. He decorated the bowls with battle scenes in a similar style. The equestrian statuette of Ferenc Rákóczi II on one of the caps is a miniature masterpiece. (Fig. 218-221) Spiro created two pipes commemorating Prince Rákóczi probably on the occasion of the return of Rákóczi's ashes (1906) from Turkey to Hungary. One pipe is about the equeistrian memorial, the other is the portrait of the Prince after the painting by Ádám Mányoki. (Fig. 222) In 1896, during the Millennium Exhibition, Spiro had already worked for Donath. During the celebrations that welcomed the thousand-year history of the Hungarians, the theme of Árpád and the conquerors was revived with renewed impetus. The cult of pagan Hungarian ancestors occupying the land and the homeland has come to the for. It was popular to depict Árpád raised upon the shield, which also decorated the poster of the Millennium National Exhibition. (Fig. 223) There was also a commemorative pipe at the exhibition, a small work with the mark of Sándor Donáth, probably this is also Spiro's carving (IM 77.165). On its squat, small bowl, the scene was flatrelief, while on the another pipe signed by Spiro it was shaped on a narrow edge as a small circular group statuette. A similar group scene depicts the story of the Blood Contract. Spiro's little early masterpieces are now only fragmented in the collection because of the vulnerability of circular statuettes. However, the most beautiful miniature carving of the coronation badges remained intact on the back side of the neck. The composition follows the representation of the poster. (Fig. 224-226) The historical theme was a priority in the art of Emil Spiro. He engraved Vajk's baptism-pipe from snow-white meerschaum following the composition of Gyula Benzúr's painting. The whole pipe forms a Gothic church. The tower-shaped cap, carved in 404