Flag of Močići

The flag of Močići. Konavle brotherhoods have their own flags, some old, some recently made. They are usually decorated with embroidery made by Konavle women. Along with the embroidery, there is sometimes a painting of a saint that was purchased from a master in Dubrovnik. This flag of the brotherhood from the village of Močići was made in the 1930s using the old “dark embroidery” technique, which fell out of use at the end of the 19th century. It was made by women who learned this technique at the Jelka Miš school in Cavtat.

Selling embroidery in Čilipi

Each Sunday during tourist season, folk dances take place in Čilipi, Konavle, right after church services. Traditional dances are demonstrated by a local group of dancers dressed in the old traditional dress (nošnje). During this time, with many tourists wandering around to see the sites, temporary booths and tables are set up to sell local gift items. This woman is selling traditional handmade embroidery. Photo taken around 2004.

Demonstration of weaving

A weaver dressed in the native dress (nošnje), demonstrating the operation of a homemade loom. This is in the old Franić house in Čilipi, Konavle, where demonstrations of folk activities took place after church services each Sunday during the tourist season. The house was not lived in but served as a museum and venue for demonstrations of folk activities. The Franić family has died out in Čilipi but it survives in Watsonville, CA. Photo taken around 2004.

Goat hair yarn

Yarn made of natural goat hair, not dyed. Goat hair was an important resource of traditional textile production. Bags, raincoats and other household textiles were made from it. Goat hair fiber is not dyed, so the color of the fiber depends solely on the color of the goat. This production is alive today in the Konavle Hills.

SKADARICA

This piece is a large ceremonial embroidery of Konavle women, from the second half of the 20th century. These were worn on festive occasions, and were often embroidered by brides at the time of their marriage and given as gifts by women from the future husband's house. This piece is embroidered with red and black silk on cotton canvas.

TEETH-LIKE EMBROIDERY

This “teeth-like” chest piece from the second half of the 20th century is an example that was made for younger girls. It has never been worn, which is confirmed by the absence of a tassel (kite). In Konavle embroidery language, teeth motifs are those that are made with combinations of odd numbers, and are always used for young girls and celebrations. After marriage, women wear fewer and fewer chest pieces with teeth-like patterns.

ON HOOKS 20th century

This chest piece, so called “on hooks”, is a typical mourning piece of the second half of the 20th century. This chest piece was worn by younger women for family mourning occasions. This is an extremely fine example as shown by the number of elements in the embroidered segments.

WIDOW'S EMBROIDERY

This widow's chest piece is completely black. They are made after the death of the husband when the widow dyes her embroidery black. Widows would dye their other embroidery pieces black, and would wear these black versions for the rest of their lives. But she would not dye her wedding chest piece because women in Konavle are buried wearing that piece.

SKADARICA

This chest piece is a large festive embroidery of Konavle women. This one is from the very beginning of the 20th century and was worn by married women for very rare occasions. It is decorated with a small bow, which is located next to silver buttons that are used to fasten festive embroidery ribbons. This piece is embroidered with silk on linen fabric.

SEMI-CLOSED CHEST PIECE

This piece, so called “semi-closed,” is an embroidery of a married woman. Chest pieces with hook patterns have always been used for mourning since the Second World War. This piece is made of silk on linen and was used between 1900 and 1920.

CHEST PIECE SMALL EMBROIDERY

This piece is embroidery for an older woman and was used around 1900. It is made of silk on homemade linen and has never been used, which we know by the absence of a tassel (kite). The two halves of the piece are not symmetrical. Some women believed that a non-symmetrical pattern protected them from spells. This embroidery style appeared in the second half of the 19th century and disappeared in the 20th century.

ON HOOKS

Chest piece “on hooks” is a common form of Konavle embroidery from the 19th and 20th centuries. In the 19th century, it had three colors, while in the 20th century it was only in red and black and was always used for occasions of mourning. This example has never been worn, which is confirmed by the absence of tassels (kite) that were usually placed on the lower part of the piece. See more about Konavle embroidery at https://www.prijatelji-konavala.org/post/konavle-embroidery

KADIFAČA

This Konavle embroidery chest piece, called Kadifača, is a rare specimen from the 20th century. In the 19th century, these types of chest pieces were more elaborate and were worn on ceremonial occasions by older women. During the 20th century, they became simpler and were worn by younger girls. This is an example of a very simple kadifača pattern. See more on Konavle embroidery at https://www.prijatelji-konavala.org/post/konavle-embroidery.

ON FINGERS / ON CYPRESS TREES

This “on fingers” chest piece is from the 19th century piece and was worn while working. It is made of silk on linen fabric in three colors. On the lower part, there are attached tassels (kite) that have not been cut. This form of tassel is characteristic of the second half of the 19th century. See more about Konavle embroidery at https://www.prijatelji-konavala.org/post/konavle-embroidery