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The Archeo-Ethno Park in Ravna

Detail from the etnological exhibition- handicrafts

 

 

The next part of the exhibition is related to trades in Knjaževac of the late XIX and early XX century. Knjaževac had 450 different artisans at the end of the nineteenth century. After the liberation from the Turks, the town had the following guilds: 15 innkeepers, 12 merchants and over 50 artisans (furriers, tailors, weavers, potters, silversmiths, tailors, celebrants, brick makers, carpenters, gunsmiths, blacksmiths and others). Newer crafts appeared only in the early twentieth century (tailors, carpenters, watchmakers, shoemakers, tinsmiths, cobblers, doctors, barbers, goldsmiths, confectioners). Modern and traditional clothes tailors are continue their development. Modern tailoring arises in the 20’s of the XX century. Within the ethnological display, there are items related to tailoring and these are: furrier tools, molds for fur hats, a mannequin, a metal tool for tensioning the canvas called ‘cimbar’, a male sheepskin jerkin. Furrier trade is very old in Knjaževac. From year 1910 until the beginning of World War II, the production was at its peak. The development of this trade is a result of large livestock growing in the vicinity of Knjaževac, especially goats and sheep. The furriers purchased raw skins from butchers in the town and surrounding villages and tanned them. They made male and female fur coats, fur jerkins, fur hats, vests.

 

 

Peasant shoesIn the next display case there are items related to footwear industry which developed in the early twentieth century. Shoe moulds and shoemakers’ tools are exhibited here. Cobblers in Knjaževac were first mentioned in 1876. Peasant shoemakers’ guild was one of the largest in this region. Peasant shoes are hand-made from beef or calf leather. At first, shoes were made of raw skin. Peasants made them themselves, and also women. Because of infection hazard and dissatisfied cobblers, raw footwear was prohibited. The form of raw peasant shoe remained, only tanned leather was now used. The famous traditional shoemaker – “opančar” in Knjaževac was Dragi Milosavljević, who was awarded for his work at the World Exhibition in London in 1907.