The collection of Stjepan Mezo is a remarkable private compilation, amassed over many years, characterized by its diversity but dominated by a significant number of menus. The owner and a collector donated this extensive collection to the Museum of Sarajevo in 1961, shortly before his death.
Stjepan Mezo, originally known as Ištvan Mezo and also referred to as Stefan(all three variants of the signature can be found on some exhibits) was orriginaly of Hungarian background, but Mezo's life journey marked him as a true citizen of the world, which he had traveled several times. His relentless travels were dedicated to acquiring various menus, making his collection the core of his existence. Mezo’s commitment to his collection was so profound that he devoted all his resources to its expansion, prioritizing it above personal relationships, including those with his life partner, children, family, and friends. His friends often acted as informants, notifying him of potential events where he could acquire new menus..
He traveled constantly, unbound by family obligations, quitting his job if the trip was far away and intriguing enough. A waiter by profession, Mezo's occupation greatly facilitated the growth of his collection. He would often quit jobs to embark on intriguing trips to obtain more menus. His collection, now housed in the Museum of Sarajevo, comprises around 4,000 menus from various countries, time periods, and purposes. This vast array not only reflects changes in dietary habits but also offers insights into broader social movements and relationships over time: how much effort and energy was devoted to the choice of food, variety, combinations of food and drink. The menus reveal the culture of food, table setting, and menu design, showcasing the effort and creativity that went into culinary presentations in the past. The menues collected by Mezo were much more beautifully designed and that these, aesthetic, supporting elements of the diet were also in the service of the final pleasure of dining. Comparing Mezo’s beautifully designed menus with today's more uniform and uninventive ones, we can conclude that the attitude towards food is also like that.The contrast hightlights a shift in attitudes towards food, likely influenced by the modern pace of life which limits quality time for meals. Mealtime used to be a bonding and relaxing factor for the family. Today, such an approach is forgotten and neglected.
Mezo was a "combination" of collectors who are divided into those who focus their passion on one subject (painting, numismatics, philately, etc.) and so-called "all-rounders", who collect indiscriminately. In addition to menus, by which the Collection is recognizable, Mezo's collection includes art paintings, furniture, clocks, cutlery, and various other items such as matchboxes, stickers, tickets, and advertising materials that are often questioned as to whether they belong in museums or not. These items, although sometimes questioned for their museum-worthiness, are valuable for the comprehensive understanding they offer when a museum accepts or purchases a collection.
Collectors like Mezo, passionate about the unity and indivisibility of their collections, often face the reality that museums have their own organizational structures. Museums typically distribute donated materials among existing collections while preserving the original context and provenance of the items. Consequently, art paintings from Mezo’s collection are part of the Museum’s Art Collection. Despite this distribution, the collection of menus and other items remain under Mezo's name, honoring his legacy.
Mezo’s dedication to his collection is evident from the fact that he only relinquished it in his later years, living to the age of 93. His choice to donate to a museum underscores the idea that collecting is, in a sense, a fight against forgetting and a quest for immortality. By choosing the Museum of Sarajevo, Mezo ensured the preservation of his collection and the memory of his life's passion.
