In 2017, during a preliminary archaeological excavation prior to the construction of a hotel at 7–9 Molnár Street in Budapest’s District V, the two fragments exhibited here were unearthed. It was only during the restoration process that it became clear they belonged together.
Due to the proximity of the Danube, the soil in the area remains constantly moist, which contributed to the excellent preservation of organic materials. In addition to leather artifacts, numerous ropes, cords, and woven textile fragments were also found. Perhaps the most unique among them is the presented knotted net made of silk thread with a filet lace technique. The net was made by knotting, forming a mesh of tiny squares, created in the same way as a fishing net, but using much finer tools and materials.
Patterned knotted net made of silk thread
When discovered, both fragments were observed as small knots of muddy, uniformly earth-brown colour. As the first step of restoration, they were cleaned in deionized water with detergent, then thoroughly rinsed. For drying, they were pinned down so that the evenness of the rows could be preserved and the net would not shrink. After drying, it was revealed that both fragments had darker and lighter areas. Possible matching points were sought using the knotted edges and terminations. At that point, they were placed on a darker background, and the picture suddenly came together: in the centre of a hexagonal medallion, a walking lion— a very common heraldic motif—was revealed. The relative position of the two fragments was also clarified, as the upper part of another medallion was visible on the larger piece, and based on the number of knots, the smaller fragment was found to fit well with it.
Knot junctions and the meeting of the two colours
Whether this finely knotted net, decorated with a heraldic animal and made of thin silk thread, was part of a larger object or a garment remains a subject worthy of further research.
The net pinned during drying
Text: Katalin Rácz
Site: Budapest, District V, 7–9 Molnár Street
Archaeologist: Viktória Horváth
Photos: Ákos Keppel, Katalin Rácz