Table

The Hungarian word asztal (‘table’) is of Slavic origin. Its first appearance in writing is in 1293 (oztol). It is mentioned in Hungarian documents by the name of Kysaztal in 1354 and Mensa asztal in 1395. The master making such furniture is called an Asthalus (1454), Asthalgyártó (1457) and Astalosch (1528), as in the case of neighbouring peoples, who likewise denote the craftsman in question with a derivative of the word ‘table’. In medieval Hungary, the table was a temporary piece of furniture. It was set up merely for eating and, when the meal was over, was taken apart. Only from the late 15th century did the table become a permanent item of furniture in a fixed place, the centre of the room – where everyone could easily access it – or in a corner between two benches. We know of two types: the cradle-table and the table with a large drawer. As a matter of fact, two solid side planks flanked the cradleshaped – hence the name – lower storage part, in which, underneath a square top, another drawer could be found. The last mentioned could not be pulled out: it could only be accessed by taking off its top. The chamber or large drawer table was a structure likewise with a lower drawer that could be opened by means of a removable top but which rested on a two-part base. The early examples in Hungary of the two furniture types are presumably German, and were perhaps made under Tyrolean influence. Judging from another name for the table – ‘Transylvanian table’ – we may conclude that these were produced first and foremost in Transylvania, but they must have occurred in Upper Hungary also, mainly Bártfa (today Bardejov, Slovakia) and Kassa (today Košice, Slovakia).