Ethnologica Dalmatica, Vol. 4-5 , 1996.
Original scientific paper
The Bride's Chest Box
Branka Vojnović
; Etnografski muzej Split
Abstract
As a favourite bride's item, the chest box has until recently been very well known in Croatia. This item which was used for transporting and keeping the bride's dowry appeared in two basic types: one made of hewn planks and that whose sides were made of single planks. Descriptions of wedding customs in southern Croatia usually speak of its symbolocal purchase and ceremonious transport to the bride's new home. Facts about the bride's chest box in Dalmatian towns date from the 15th – 16th century. In smaller towns and rural areas they were still used until the mid 20th century. Constantly influenced by tradition and foreign import, its shapes and function varied. Because of the direct influences of the rural and urban culture, that is the hinterland and the coastal part, the typical Adriatic type chest box was for a long time used for keeping clothes. Chest boxes from the Benedictine monastery in Trogir speak of their profane as well as sacral use. Legal delivering of the dowry in medieval Dalmatian towns (listed dowry afterwards) may be brought in relation to the ceremonious because the land was thus not divided, it was also obligatory in medieval Dalmatian towns where such type of comunities did not exist. Although generally daughters were not entitled to their parents inheritance, each was given a chest box with clothes that were brought to their new home. These finely elaborated chest boxes became a representative piece of furniture in their new home. It seems that due to this particular reason it was for a long time used in rural areas.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
108651
URI
Publication date:
10.7.1996.
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