Original scientific paper

Decorating Gourds in the Županja Area

Zdenka Lechner

Abstract

The art of gourd-decoration existed in the villages of eastern Croatia in the eighteenth century, as is confirmed by verses of Katančić from 1791 (Fructus auctumnales), and by a gourd dated to 1734. Data about this art in the nineteenth century are more abundant. The artists use nitric acid to produce red-brown ornaments, which harmonize well with cut-in black motives. In the twentieth century the art is not a shepherds' speciality any more, nor exclusively male activity. It has become a house industry. The author describes the art of gourd-decoration in nine localities near Županja. She has confirmed that a gourd dated to 1891 has very similar decorative motives (scenes) to one from 1734. Thus, a continuity has been established, and both objects are considered first-class documents of Croatian folk art.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

80143

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/80143

Publication date:

1.12.1983.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 1.589 *