Composition of the treasure

All the vessels were hammered and the decoration was carefully manufactured in repoussé and chasing technique. The production technique used for the jugs was specific: all seven of them were drawn out, i.e. the whole body was hammered from a single sheet, without using any soldering seams. Due to the thorough research on manufacturing and decorating techniques and the analysis of composition of gold alloys and solders tools and workshops are identified.

Certain stylistic features differentiate the vessels into three main groups: Group I includes cups Nos. 11 and 12, two goblets Nos. 22 and 23 and a drinking horn No. 17. The jugs precisely decorated with tendrils and palmette patterns of naturalistic forms belong to Group II, whereas Group III is presented by the objects decorated in “rod-shaped” style (bowls Nos. 13-16, 20 and 21, as well as bowl No. 19). The seven vessels with decoration in “rod-shaped” style (Stäbchenranken) must have been made in the same workshop. There is a high degree of similarity between bowl No. 19 and No. 21. It was ascertained, however, that bowls Nos. 13 and 14 were made by different craftsmen.

The inscriptions on 15 out of a total of 23 gold vessels mark a specific feature of the Nagyszentmiklós treasure. Several groups can be distinguished: Greek inscriptions written in Greek script; a Turkic inscription written in Greek script; inscriptions containing runiform characters.

They are either incorporated in the ornamental bands as part of the decoration or they are embossed or scratched onto the vessel wall with no reference to the representation. The content of the inscriptions has eluded any proper explanation so far.

Among the most interesting inscriptions discussed by the scholars is the one placed at the center of the bowl, containing the titles Bujla (Boila), Butaul and Župan which seem to be recognized. +ΒΟΥΗΛΑ∙ΖΟΑΠΑΝ∙ΤΕCΗ∙ΔΥΓΕΤΟΙΓΗ∙ΒΟΥΤΑΟΥΛ∙ΖΩΑΠΑΝ∙ΤΑΙΓΡΟΓΗ∙ΗΤΖΙΓΗ∙ΤΑΙCΗ

The total number of the objects is 23, as 22 out of them are originals and cup No. 12 is a copy. They are made of gold of average 20 to 22 carats fine, with two exceptions. The total weight of the vessels is about 10 kg (9926 g).

The treasure includes seven jugs, or more precisely, flasks reworked as jugs, four bowls with buckles, two smaller handled bowls and an oval bowl with handle plate, a small bulbous bowl, two bull-headed bowls and a nautilus-shaped bowl, two goblets, two cups and a drinking horn. Six twin vessels are formed within the composition of the treasure.