Our Romani Ancestors’ Artisanal Crafts

The travelling exhibition called “Řemesla našich předků / Sikhľarďi buťi – somnakuňi buťi” [Our Romani Ancestors’ Artisanal Crafts] includes in its bilingual Czech and Romanes title an old Romani saying:  “Skilled work – golden work”.

The exhibit presents selected types of artisanal crafts which Romani people brought with them from their ancient homeland in India to Europe and through which they made their livings until recently or even still today. It reflects on the transformations to these crafts or professions and the process of their development from historical times to the present. Most of these skills were transformed and adapted to the new conditions after Romani people were banned from living on the road – this chiefly involved metalwork crafts such as blacksmithing, boiler-making, bell-casting or traditional work with materials found in nature, chiefly birch and willow saplings, clay or wood. However, we also find unusual activities here such as divination and the practice of magic.

This exhibition is available in Czech only.