In cooperation with the “Belgrade Waterfront” company, the National Tourism Organization of Serbia has for a longer time now been organizing thematic exhibitions in the open air, in a nice-looking and inspiring space of the Sava Promenade – a promenade on the very riverbank of the Sava. There is an ongoing exhibition there, dedicated to old crafts and souvenirs, a part of which we are presenting to you.
The world of old crafts is exceptionally diverse. Therefore, the exhibition shows just one part of our heritage, brought alive and personified in embroidery, weaving, pottery making. Some of old craft products, such as opanci (peasant leather footwear), šajkača (a Serbian national cap), and the flute have acquired a status of general national symbols. On the other side, there are kilim rugs and the pottery of Pirot, the pottery manufacturing school of Zlakusa, kilim rugs of Stapar, rosettes of Bela Voda (White Water), puppets of Banat, made of corn stalks, or the straw art of Tavankut are imprinted by the local climate.
Although basically different, some of old crafts are harmoniously blended with the serial production of souvenirs. The motifs of embroidery and kilim rugs, Cyrillic letters… are used and printed on magnets, mugs, packaging… Our gastronomic tradition is also “packed” in lovely jars and small bottles. The greater the awareness of the importance of the preservation of our craft tradition and the larger the number of tourists, the greater the number of those respecting and admiring souvenirs and old craft products.
The souvenir shop in Loznica, where Vuk Stefanović-Karadžić was born, is an example of the creative application of the Cyrillic letters in producing memories to take away you.
At the time when there were no ready-made puppets, parents were making toys for their children. According to that tradition, corn-stalk puppets were created to look after children; today, they are lovely souvenirs.
Characteristic, imaginative, nicely-made and packed objects depicting our tradition and culture make a big family of Serbian souvenirs – as a memory, a gift, an ornament or for use.
In some of our monasteries for women, embroidery is especially cherished. It is used to decorate priests’ garments and various objects of divine service. The nuns of the Monastery of Žiča and Gradac are known for being excellent in embroidery.
Slovakian women are famous for being persistent in preserving tradition, which is clearly reflected in their colorful national costume and traditional embroidery.
Dušan Drndarević from the village of Zlakusa near Užice continues the long-lasting tradition of the far-known pottery manufacturing school, which uses a very old and unique technique: the objects are given shape on a slow handwheel and fired in an open kiln.
Silken, colorful and tasty. This is the “sweet heritage” of the Bosiljčić family, who run the only and the oldest candy-maker’s shop in Belgrade, established in 1934.
The kilim rug of Pirot has no face and back, but two completely the same sides instead, which is unique in the world of manufacturing kilim rugs. The manufacturing standard catalogue contains 122 patterns and 96 ornaments.
Skillful women weavers respect old forms; yet, not one kilim rug is the same. The question is which of the motifs to choose: turtles, collared doves, small feathers or Kondić’s pattern.
The chiseling craft in the village of Bela Voda near Kruševac has been passed from father to son since as early as the Middle Ages. These stone “windows” of exceptional beauty are the ornaments on the façades of Lazarica Chruch, the monastaries of Ljubostinja, Kalenić…
Dragić Bugarin can make an instrument to the accompaniment of whose sounds our overall epic tradition has been preserved. Singing to the accompaniment of the gusle has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Men’s clothing from Eastern Serbia consists of a flaxen shirt made of hemp, as has been done on Old Mountain from times immemorial, and the vest is tailored on the pattern of the brigand clothing of the Timočka Krajina.
Charcoal was once used as a propellant by many craftsmen; today, it is mainly used by the masters of barbecue. This “black craft” has survived in many regions. A charcoal kiln on Golija uses beech wood, of which people say the most quality charcoal is made.
Dejan Milosavljević, a member of the Serbian Association of Cobblers Making the “opanak” shoe, exhibits his handicrafts at the Museum of the Art of Making the Opanak Peasant Shoe in the village of Rakovica. He is also famous for having made a giant travelling opanak museum.
Ilovačića Watermill on the River Gradac is the oldest in the region of Valjevo and the only in which wheat and corn are still milled. However, there is no one (for the time being) to come next after the miller Sreten Milovanović.
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