Projects and Science

Serbia
Europe

ABTlogo_abt

Serbia, Ottoman distaff
Ottoman/Turkish distaff. Wood with chip carvings and engravings (intertwined serpents) and leather strap to tie the fibers onto the distaff. Although this distaff was purchased in Bulgaria an inscription in Serbian with the initials of the carpenter (спомен от рс = as keepsake - HS) documents its origin from a Serbian-speaking region. Signed 1908. Length: 103 cm/40.5". Length of leather strap: 105 cm/41.3".
Serbia, Pirot, distaff

Antique Balkan distaff from the Pirot region in southeastern Serbia. The carving is made by hand in shepherd's style. Length: 44.88"; Width: 3.15".


Serbien, Spinnrocken_2
Distaff (length: 34.6”). Carved cross on the reverse between the letters LU and CA (LU † CA), below the name MIKOVOLOVIĆ.


 

Serbia, women spinning wool and flax

Serbian women preparing and spinning wool (A) and flax (B). Different types of spindles and distaffs are used for wool and flax. Images from a YouTube-video: Život na planini (= Life on the mountain); Traditional way of processing wool
 


Serbia, woman spinning
French advertising card (Liebig Card) for meat extract from Liebig. Serbian woman spinning with a drop-spindle and a free standing distaff.

Liebig Cards are trading cards (or collectible cards), attached to the product packaging of Liebig's meat extract. The meat extract was named after the German chemist Justus von Liebig (1803-1873). 1903

Text overleaf:

Chez les Serbes, qui tiennent avec opiniâtreté a leurs anciennes mœurs et coutumes, toute femme a pour devoir de filer et de tisser elle-même, son linge. L´aîné de la famille (Starjeschina) qui prend soin de toutes les affaires concernant celle-ci, y veille strictement. C'est lui aussi qui représente la communauté vis-à-vis des autorités politiques, arrange 1es différends et dirige le travail auquel la famille entière prend part. Le ménage en commun est successivement tenu par l'une des femmes mariées et tout membre féminin non occupé à la campagne est tenu de filer et de tisser.

Rough translation:

AUTHENTIC LIEBIG MEAT EXTRACT. Among the Serbs, who stick tenaciously to their ancient manners and customs, it is every woman's duty to spin and weave her own clothes. The eldest son (Starjeschina) takes care of all matters her matters and regulates the day. He also represents the family in the community, with the political authorities, arranges disputes and directs the work in which the whole family participates. The household share is held by a succession of married women and all unoccupied female members of the community are required to spin and weave.


Nach oben scrollen