This collection houses relics of historical Hungary from the modern age to the present day including material on outstanding public and political personalities, civil and official organisations of the 20th century, as well as important objects related to the major historical junctures and events of our country. As a consequence, the selection of objects is not and has not been based on the type or the material but the person, organisation, event, etc. they were related to. Thus, this collection contains virtually all types of materials and objects that can be found in other collections. Among others, there are memorabilia related to Miklós Horthy, Mrs. István Horthy, Pál Teleki, István Bethlen, Kunó Klebelsberg, Béla Kun, Mátyás Rákosi, Imre Nagy, János Kádár, József Antall, Árpád Göncz, etc. as well as thematic units: objects concerning revisionism, scouting, political parties, VIT (World Youth Meeting), and last but not least relics of congresses, demonstrations, ceremonies, funerals.
Contact: Vilmos Gál, gal.vilmos@hnm.hu
Composition of the collection
The collection can also be classified by types of objects. Of particular importance are enamel advertising and office signs, including signs for Communist ceremonies, demonstrations and street name signs typical of the period (from Mussolini to Stalin). Our characteristic pieces are the goblets, awards and plaques, which have largely come down to us from various male choirs, and their stylistic can be well traced from trends of the different periods, from the types of goblets and competition trophies of the late 19th century to the socialist-realist taste of late socialism. Since 1999, some 6,000 items of the collection have been stored in new, modern warehouses, but of course the most beautiful and interesting pieces are on permanent display.
The so-called "Rákosi coat of arms" was one of the most important symbols of the authoritarian regime. During the 1956 Revolution and War of Independence of 1956, the coats of arms symbolizing dictatorship were torn down and damaged by revolutionaries everywhere. The collection piece on display here suffered a similar fate.
The Collection of Unique Objects houses dozens of objects representative of the cult of personality in the early 1950s. Pictured here is a leather folder with a taxidermied baby crocodile attached to the cover, with a pen holder in its gaping mouth. A plaque on the cover of the folder shows that the object was presented by the Small Industrial Cooperative for the Production of Leather Gloves and Sports Goods for Rákosi's birthday.
The other object in the picture, a clasp box made of laced burgundy leather bands decoratedwith the Rákosi coat of arms on the lid and an inscription stating that it was offered to the "leader" by employees of the Budapest City Council for his birthday.
A souvenir made in the battlefield during the First World War, an ashtray with a match holder in the middle, crafted with various bullets. Conscripts have produced many similar souvenirs during the trench warfare in the First World War, and the Collection of Unique Objects has a number of interesting objects made of wood and bone for various purposes (gifts, utensils, etc.), in addition to those made from bullets.
The object is a paper pencil box with an opening lid, with irredentist motifs on the cover together with the No! No! Never! slogan. On the inside of the lid is a depiction of the factory. Used by historian Bálint Hóman in prison in 1945. Produced by Schuler József Rt. (Budapest) stationery factory in the 1930s.
