Book excerpt: The stormy and often war-torn history of Hungary has been the background for a flourishing industry of gold and silversmith's work. Unfortunately, Hungarian silver is little known outside Hungary, but the outstanding collection of pieces acquired in the West over the last three decades by Nicolas Salgo and spanning more than four centuries of the goldsmith's craft provides a highly representative survey of the remarkable work of the Hungarian craftsmen. More than one hundred and twenty works have been brought together and illustrated in this book; maker's marks are identified whenever possible and reproduced alongside the pieces on which they appear. Provenance and literature are also provided. An outline history of Hungary, followed by a brief survey of the goldsmith's craft and of the guild system, set the pieces in their historical context, while notes on the goldsmiths represented in the collection and an appendix of makers' and town marks complete this invaluable book.