Issues of workshops and attribution

The task of Sub-project 2 is to research the manufact-uring technique of the vessels and of the Seuso treasure and, taking this approach as a basis, to attempt deter-mining the place of making the objects and identifying its makers, if possible. These are important issues which earlier had already been raised about the treasure.  We try to determine the characteristics of the silversmiths and workshops having made the individual objects, and the criteria for their identification (attribution). We also examin whether certain individual items belonged together to a single set. The Seuso treasure is only one of the artistically outstanding products of silversmithing from the late imperial period, hence its comparative technical examination with other similar silver artefacts may provide significant results for the comprehensive research on late imperial silversmith’s craft. Research results may contribute to placing the Seuso treasure in the context of late Antique craftsmanship as well. Throughout its research work, the sub-project closely cooperates with the Archeometry sub-project and builds on the results of the natural scientific analyses too.

Head of the sub-project: Marianna Dági, archaeologist, chief curator and Head of Research of the Museum of Fine Arts, member of the Collection of Classical Antiquities