Original scientific paper

Hondelj — a Head Covering of a Married Woman in Konavle

Marijana Gušić

Abstract

The authress explains the origin and historical meaning of a garment which under the name of »Hondelj« makes a part of traditional women costumes in Konavle. According to its material and style analysis, it is proved that »hondelj« originally comes from magic beliefs in the single-horned. In the Gothic stylization this gains a decorative function of a high raised coiffure. So the Konavle »kerchief — hondelj« is tied up in a decorative knot and raised over the forehead by means of a support primarily called »hondelj«.
Etymologically the word »hondelj« derives from the Venetian »fondello« meaning not a big wooden or metal lamella (Boerio). Typologically »hondelj« belongs to that category of women head coverings which in a Gothic form excel as an ornament vertically raised above a forehead. The authress explains that the word »riguletum — kličak«, mentioned by Philip de Diversis, is the »i-dialect« version of the recent word »klič — klječ« meaning a small piece of wood — shiver — that is still used in the production of woollen stuff in the Dynaric typologic area. At the same time some late mediaeval names of articles belonging to women costumes are explained, such as: »zoja«, »frontale — pričelak«, »facol — pocjelica«, »kapica — skufija«, »coverlo — kovrljak«, »hoverlica — pokrivača«, as well as »ovrljina« a piece of the Herzegovinian costumes.
The Konavle »hondelj« has been accepted in its mediaeval form. As a specific folk wealth it has been preserved up to the present days.

Keywords

hondelj; head covering; Konavle

Hrčak ID:

243234

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/243234

Publication date:

30.6.1982.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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