The Geographical Aspects of Traditional Handicrafts in Serbia

Abstract

The first part of paper is dedicated to current research related to traditional handicrafts in the world. Then, traditional handicrafts are viewed from the geographical perspective. The paper analyzes the relationship between the physical and geographical characteristics, the type of handicraft and raw material base. Most of the paper is devoted to the social factors that influence the traditional handicrafts. The paper lists the forms of support to preserve traditional handicrafts that goes in favor of their sustainability. The paper shows examples of work on the preservation of traditional crafts in Serbia. The paper describes the possibilities of placing items produced by traditional handicrafts. By displaying manifestations, paper illustrates some traditional handicrafts. In addition, the paper discusses the actual problems of the traditional handicrafts. The significance of the paper is that it is written record of traditional handicrafts in Serbia at the beginning of the 21st century, because they are no longer subject to monitoring of official statistics. The aim of this paper is to motivate the youth and the unemployed to look for themselves in originality, excellence and financial justification of working in traditional handicrafts. On that way, traditionally handicrafts could to maintain their viability.Keywords: handicrafts, tradition, Serbia, manifestations, sustainability.European Researcher. Series A, 2015, Vol.(100), Is. 11 748 IntroductionFor decades, handicrafts have disappeared due to mechanical production and traditional production of certain items is almost forgotten. Traditional craft means creating unique products and services, which are based on traditional knowledge and technologies, the use of natural materials in the production process, using simple tools. In categorization of crafts they are labeled as traditional crafts, which include traditional manufacturing, cooking of traditional dishes and building activity. Regulation on classifications of professions that are considered as old and artistic crafts (Sl. glasnik RS, 2012) clearly outlines the types of crafts. Among all, the most common are pottery, farriery, cooper, draper, clothier, candy making, traditional footwear craft, weaving, tanning (e-Kapija, 2013). Traditional craftsmanship reflects the conditions and centuries-long traditions of folk life in the countryside and the city.According to the census, craftsmanship as a statistical category of activities was followed by the end of the 20th century. In the following years, there were data in the form of internal documentation on the number of enterprises, institutions and other legal entities in the category of craft and personal services. In the last two censuses, data on crafts have disappeared completely as a category because they were treated in the context of other, related or less related categories. The idea for this work was initiated by information from the media, which more often show different stories about traditional crafts. The significance of the researc...

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