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Socio-scientific collections

Art and History

Aquamanile (13th century). A liturgical object being used in

the churches at a ritual washing of the hands. Aquamanile is cast in bronze and represents a horse rider – hunter sitting on a horse. A filling hole is placed on the head of the horse head between the ears. A tube, which is sticking out of the animal’s labium. A vessel was found near the ruins of the church close to Veľká Čalomija in the district of Veľký Krtíš in 1947. To the museum in Banská Bystrica it got in 1957.

Font from Babiná (13th century)

Romanesque stone font with geometric and figural motives from the church in Babiná (district of Krupina).

The Head of St. John the Baptist from Tajov
Hlava Sv. Jána Krstiteľa z Tajova (posledná tretina 15. stor.)

Hlava Sv. Jána Krstiteľa z Tajova (posledná tretina 15. stor.)

(last third of 15th century)
The Head of St John is an excellent sculptor’s work, which has a level of European sculpture of the second half of 15th century. Round plate is from the second half of 19th century. The Head of John the Baptist comes from the Roman-Catholic church of St. John the Baptist in Tajov near Banská Bystrica. It got to the museum in 1909.

Prophet Jeremiah from Poniky
(1400–1450)
Panel painting represents depicts the prophet Jeremiah. Originally, it was the altar wing of already non-existing altar in the Roman-Catholic church in Poniky near Banská Bystrica.

Central part of the altar triptych depicts St. Sophie with her three daughters, who are sitting in her lap. Their names are Faith, Hope, Love and each of them has its own attribute – a book, hands on breast, a fire grate. The wings of the altar depict the episodes of her life – communion of Body of Christ, Whipping of St. Sophie, Torturing of St. Sophie, and Beheading of St. Sophie. The altar was ranked into the collections of the Museum yet before 1909 from the Roman-Catholic church in Sásová (part of Banská Bystrica).	Relief of the Death of Virgin Mary from Selce (posledná štvrtina 15. storočia) The relief made of lime wood depicts praying Virgin Mary with the Apostles around her. The relief got to the museum in 1909 from the church of St. Cyril and Method (originally All Saints Church) in Selce near Banská Bystrica.
Gothic tiles (15th century) Three Gothic tiles depict St. Peter, St. John the Evangelist and St. Paul. The first two of them were given to the museum collections by dr. Samuel Bothár, the third one is from the family collection of the Thomko. All three exemplars attract the attention to the developed tile production in Banská Bystrica.	Signets of butcher’s craft in Banská Bystrica (1558) have engraved silver plate with different motives but with the same engraved year 1558. On one of them there is engraved a “griffin” (mythic creature – half lion, half eagle) cutting off the ox head, on the other one, the angel holds the shield with ox head. Butcher’s craft belonged among the oldest ones in Banská Bystrica; it was probably founded in the second half of 14th century. Its articuli have been preserved since 1443. It is interesting that in 1489, there existed, along with German craft, also the craft of Slovak butchers; we do not know when it came into existence.
Signet of the town of Banská Bystrica (15th century) In the middle of silver medieval signet there is engraved the sign of the town. It is held by an angel as a shield bearer, on the side of the sign there are eagles as protectors of the shield. Around the relief there is a circular inscription written in Gothic minuscule: „Sigillum ciuitatis Noui : soly“ – which means in translation - „Signet of the town of New Zvolen (former name for Banská Bystrica)“. Signet has been inserted into new wooden holder.	Liquid measure of the town of Banská Bystrica (1576) is cast in bronze; on its casing there is a relief of the town’s sign with year 1576. The museum got it in 1891 from the municipal archive. In 1900 it was exposed at the World exhibition in Paris.
Goblet of Juraj Radvanský (1576) is made of silver and it is gilded. It is decorated by hunting scenes and motives from the home life. The central motive is the sign of Banská Bystrica with angel and Latin inscription beneath: “AD SECVNDAS EGREGI DOMINI GEORGII RADWANSKII NVPTIAS CIVITAS NOVIZOLIENSIS PROPTER FVTVRAM ACPERTVRAM SVAM ET HOEREDVM SVORVM AMICITIAM: DONO: DEDIT 1.5.7.6.“, which means in translation: “To noble Juraj Radvanský on occasion of his own wedding gift of the town of Banská Bystrica as a symbol of its devoted friendship and the friendship of its inheritors 1576“. The goblet was made of silver fragments from the moneybox of German church. On the goblet there are initials of its maker, a master H.K. It is a goldsmith of Banská Bystríca Hans Khuena, who got a reward of 6 golden and 32 kreutzers. In the Museum in Banská Bystrica, there is a duplicate of the goblet. The original one is displayed in Iparmüveszeti Museum in Budapest..	Jag with the symbols of seven planets (around 1600). The surface of the jag, which is made of gilded silver, is decorated by the cast décor with the symbolic figures of the seven “planets”: the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Even though there is no master stamp on the jag, it is a unique masterpiece of the area of the Central Slovakia mining towns. It got to the museum from the property of Evangelic church in Banská Bystrica. The same relief with mythological figures is on a tin mug from Schneeberg in Germany, which was made by master Christoff Geriswalt around 1600.
Sword of the town of Banská Bystrica (16th century) Juridic (executional) sword belonged to free royal town of Banská Bystrica. It is double-handed, double slashing. At the ends of its shield there are engraved the letters “IHS“ with the meaning JESUS HOMINUM SALVATOR and the sign of the town. There also belongs a wooden, leather-coated scabbard to the sword. The sword could serve as a symbol of the reeve’s function, however, it could also serve to a handsman. It was given to museum collection in 1891 from the Municipal archive. In 1896 it represented the town at the Millenary Exhibition in Budapest, and in 1900 at the World Exhibition in Paris. Ceremonial sword of the town of Banská Bystrica (1595) Big double-handed sword with the waved blade of flamberg type with the engraved inscription: “EIN GVETES SCHWERT IST SEINS MAN WERT“ and year 1595. There also belongs a wooden, leather-coated scabbard to the sword. It was given to museum collection in 1891 from the Municipal archive. It represented the town at the Millenary Exhibition in Budapest, and in 1900 at the World Exhibition in Paris.
Market standard of the town of Banská Bystrica (1771) is made of copper plate, on one side there is painting of the sign of the town and year 1771, on the other side there is Hungary sign. It is stocked on the fir wood flagpole. It used to be exposed in front of the town hall to as a sign of the market occurrence in the town.	The right of sword sign of the town of Banská Bystrica (18th century) is symbolized by a wooden arm with a sword fixed on the long wooden red and white pole. It was being exposed in front of the town hall in the time of execution as a sign of having the right of sword.

The coffer of goldsmith’s craft in Banská Bystrica (1654)
Wooden craft’s coffer is decorated by intarsia on its every side.

Geometric and floral motives on the front side surround the main character of St. Eligius, a patron of goldsmiths. On the inner side of the lid, there is a smooth lock plate and there are two angels, inscription and year 1654 engraved on it. The craft’s coffer represented the town both at Millenary Exhibition in 1896 and at World Exhibition in 1900 in Paris.

Ballot-box of the town of Banská Bystrica (19th century)
On the lid of the wooden coffer,

decorated by intarsia, there are twelve little wooden cups, which were used for inserting of black and white wooden marbles – ballots. It was being used in the Municipal house for voting. It got to the museum collection in 1891 from the municipal archive.

The board of oath (18th century). The painting is an exception in the frame of sacral and profane paintings. The main character is an archangel Michael as a judgement angel standing on the sphere. In his right hand, he holds a flame sword and scales and there is a stick and cane broom. The board of oath

There hovers a dove and a figure of Christ in-between the sun and the moon above him. Around the main picture, there are 12 windows with the oath’s scenes. In one of them there are seven male figures sitting around the table. The main figure is the man sitting at the top of the table reading from the book. In front of him, there is a burgher standing and swearing on the crucifix. Other pictures show what awaits the sworn for the breach of an oath. Satan is depicted here in various forms of monsters and dragons. Slovak text written in Gothic type is really difficult to be read. The painting was originally placed in the town hall, in the municipal archive. In 1891 it was transferred to the property of Municipal museum.

Goblet of Romany leader (18th century) Silver goblet of the cylindrical shape stands on three animal legs; its ball-shaped lid is decorated by the statue of a Romany boy. On the walls of the vessel there are three reliefs. The main one depicts a Romany man in the wide-awake hat holding tight two prancing horses. The reliefs on the sides show two lions standing one against each other on their rear legs; each of them has a sword in its front hoof with a stabbed head of Turk. The goblet, representing the power of the leader, comes from Behynce. To the museum it got in 1957 from his descendants.	A sword of the town of Ľubietová (17th century) Juridical sword belonged to free royal town of Ľubietová. The sword is double-handed, double slashing, inserted into a new wooden scabbard. On its metal garniture, there are initials “L:B:“ – Libeth Banya i. e. Ľubietová and year 1769. The sword served as an insignia of the reeve of Ľubietová. There goes also a wooden, painted shield with it, where the sword and scabbard were inserted together. The shield was placed at the town hall of Ľubietová.	Glabits’s goblet (1835) – The gilded goblet was given by the burghers of Banská Bystrica to Jozef Glabits in 1835 on occasion of his third electing for the reeve. Onside of the lid, there is removable part in the form of flower. On the leaves of the flower, there are engraved the names of the members of the inner council, the reeve and the lawyers. The goblet itself is designed in the same way. Its interior can be separated from the casing. On the outside of the inner vessel, there is a German message of a goldsmith Samuel Libay, who designed it, made it and stamped it as well. On this challenging work there also cooperated three other goldsmiths – František Rosenberg, Juraj Szodomka and Alojz Hritz. The goblet was exhibited at Millenary Exhibition in 1896 in Budapest.
Miner’s regalia – crossed hammer and iron – on a signet, on ceremonial “fokoše”, and on a snuffbox.	Copper bowls from Špania Dolina (18th century) brought fame to Špania Dolina and Banská Bystrica all around Europe. Europe knew them under the name of “Herrengrunder Becher“. In Špania Dolina there was water containing a lot of copper flowing out of the mines. When they put iron things into this so-called cementation water, there occurred the copper incrustation. Cementation water was called even “miraculous water”, because it had the power to transform even iron to copper. The qualities of the mining waters running through chalcopyrite deposits were started to be used from the beginning of 17th century. This way they were producing the souvenirs for more than 200 years – until 1820. Transformation of iron to copper in the mines of Špania Dolina was stirring the astonishment in all Europe. To Špania Dolina there were arriving many scientists and travellers who wanted to see this “miracle” on their own sight. In the Central Slovakia Museum there are several of these artefacts: a bowl, cups with plates, tubs and snuffbox from 1739.
Miner’s safety lamps were, until 19th century, the essential part of the miner’s equipment. In the picture, there are various types of safety lamps – the oldest one is the miner’s safety-lamp from 15th century, so-called “mitten” from unglazed clay; its capsular hole served for holding the safety lamp with a thumb. In 19th century, the safety lamps were improved. A bowl is covered with a lid and the shape is changing as well.	Bottles of patience and Model of the mine (19th and 20th century). Inside of the bottle, there are miniature models of mines and scenes from the miner’s life. Tiny figures represent mostly miners at mining. Both bottles of patience and model of the mine are manifestion of folk art of the miners. They come from the area of Banská Štiavnica.
A portrait of Július Csesznak (twenties of 20th century) Oil painting on canvas by a painter of Banská Bystrica Július Flaché depicts the reeve of Banská Bystrica J. Csesznak (1863–1933). He stood at the head of the town in years from 1893 to1923; he was the reeve in the function in the town for the longest period of time. He was also a temporary chairman and deputy chairman of the Historical and Archaeological Society of Banská Bystrica, which was founded to support and develop the Municipal Museum and to build up its first exposition.	Symbolic keys of the town of Banská Bystrica (18th century) Two gilded keys with the sign of the town were determined for the significant visits. On the smaller one there is a master sign “PR“ and a date „A. 1764. D. 28. JUL“. The keys were exhibited at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900.	Reeve’s chair of the town of Banská Bystrica (1896) Seating and seat back of the ornate chair are coated with leather. In the middle of the seat back there is a plastic sign of the town. On the backside there is engraved name of the manufacturer “I. ES. Gebauer“ and the year of making “1896“. The Museum got it into the collection in 1957.

A portrait of Jozef Glabits (half of 19th century) Oil painting on canvas shows a reeve of Banská Bystrica, J. Glabits. He holds his hand on a book with Latin inscription “Civium prosperitas Reipublicae salus“ (Prosperity of citizens – welfare of state) – his life credo. Glabits was in a function of a reeve continuously in years 1823 to 1848.	A portrait of Filip Morgenthaler (1622) Oil painting depicts F. Morgenthaler (1558–1622) as a nobleman. In the right top corner there is a sign with a lion, in fact he has a wolf in his sign. Filip Morgenthaler was a captain of the castle in Balašské Ďarmoty; he excelled in the battles with the Turks, and therefore he attained the aristocratic title. His origin is not known. In 1612 he bought a house in the square, today called Beniczký house. After his death he was buried to the crypt of the parish (German) church in Banská Bystrica. The fact, that he was a significant personality of the town, is proved by the naming of a street in the town after his name and exhibiting of the paining of him both at the Millenary exhibition in Budapest and at the World exhibition in Paris. The painting was given to the museum in 1891 from the Municipal archive.
A portrait of Mikuláš Zmeškal (1832) – an oil paiting on canvas depicts Mikuláš Zmeškal von Domanecz (1759–1833). His father Gabriel Zmeškal was a siege judge and his mother Katarína came from the distinguished family of Meehrwaldt’s from Banská Bystrica. M. Zmeškal studied at Evangelical secondary school in Banská Bystrica and later in Vienna, where he graduated the law studies. There he also started to work as an officer of Hungarian Court Office. Along with it, he was diligently putting himself to music. He composed 16 string quartets inspired by the works of early and developed Classical style. As a music composer and violoncellist he made friends with significant personalities of Vienna music life as for instance Ludwig van Beethoven and Joseph Haydn. He had a strong friendship with Beethoven, whom he also supported with finances. Beethoven dedicated him the composition “Quarteto serioso“. This is the only preserved portrait of Mikuláš Zmeškal. It is not known how it got to the museum.
A portrait of Michal Rárus (fifties of 19th century) Oil painting on canvas depicts the burgher Michal Rárus (1784–1862) from Banská Bystrica, who was a reeve in years 1848-49. In 1849 he introduced Slovak language as a main meeting language of the town council and he supported Slovak Revival Movement. Before 1853 he worked even in the functions of royal commissar and siege administrator of Zvolen siege. He lived in the house in Lazovná Street; in his testament from 1858 he dedicated all his property for foundation of the higher Slovak grammar school in Banská Bystrica. The painting got into the museum from the property of Evangelical Church in Banská Bystrica.	A portrait of Matej Bel (18th century) Oil painting on canvas depicts Matej Bel (1684–1749) in his middle age in white bag-wig. Matej Bel studied at grammar school in Banská Bystrica and in years 1710 to 1714 he worked here as a rector of an Evangelic grammar school. The painting got to the Museum from the Municipal archive in 1891. In 1896 it was exhibited at Millenary exhibition in Budapest.
A portrait of Andrej Kristián Zipser Oil painting on canvas from 1854 by Július Jonáš. Andrej Kristián Zipser (1783–1864) was a significant mineralogist and geologist. As a scientist of the era he belonged to the biggest European capacities, which is proved even by his personal connections with German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, with French mineralogist Francois Beudant, but also with Johann Wolfgang Goethe, an adorer of mineralogy and geology. K. A. Zipser arranged, in his house in Silver Street of Banská Bystrica (today it is n. 21), a private mineralogy collection. About the significance of K. A. Zipser, there are many approvals from the monarchal courts of Europe – Prussia, Sweden and Norway, Württemberg, Saxony and other. K. A. Zipser even participated in the organizing of the 3rd meeting of Hungarian doctors and natural scientists in Banská Bystrica in 1842. At suit of Zipser, there was issued a memorial medal on this occasion. The painting got to the Museum in 1955 from the Radvaň manor house.
A portrait of Anton Radvanský Oil painting on canvas from 1876 from M. Than in gilded frame depicts Anton Radvanský in Hungarian aristocratic costume with a sabre. A.Radvanský (1807–1882) was a descendant of one of the oldest aristocratic families in Zvolen’s siege. One of his ancestors, Radun, wa mentioned as early as in 1223. In 1840, A. Radvanský occupied the position of siege vice-administrator and in 1848, 1861, 1865–1882 he was a siege administrator. He was a honorary freeman of Banská Bystrica. As a siege administrator in 1874, he wrote a letter to Hungarian Ministry of Education where he required closing all Slovak grammar schools. In spite of being Slovak aristocratic family, the Radvanský family became Hungarians and protected the interests of Hungary in 19th century. The artefacts connected to the Radvanský family got to the Museum in 1955. It was just a fragment of their property. Even in 1937, there were, in the manor house, such unique things as a pulpit from the church in Radvaň-Hôrka, bed of František Wesselény, a red blanket that supposed to belong to František Rákoczy, bed of Mária Szécsy and other things. Unfortunately, those ones did not get to the museum then.