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Visits to the traditional craftsmen

Travelling through the villages of Maramureș you can still find craftsmen making by hand the everyday objects of village life — from clay cups and bowls to jewellery and tools, from bed throws to feast-day shirts, from wooden spoons to monumental gates.

A few who carried the Maramureș crafts into the 21st century:

21 craftsmen

PP

Pătru Pop a Niții

Breb, no. 370
Wood carving

Small wooden household objects, decorated spindles, nut cracker

CF

Ciuc Floare

Breb, no. 48
Wool working

Wool spinning and traditional loom weaving

VO

Vișovan Onisim

Breb, no. 338
Basket weaving

Baskets braided from hazelnut rods

BM

Bledea Maria (mother), Petric Maria (daughter), Pop Ileana (grandmother)

Breb, no. 316
Traditional textiles

Maramureș folk shirts

BI

Bota Irina

Breb, no. 328
Traditional textiles

Maramureș folk shirts

VS

Vasile Sima

Breb, no. 269
Wood carving

Crosses, carved wooden gates, fence elements with rosette and rope motifs

IB

Ileana Budeanu

Breb, no. 435
Wool working

Folk shirt sewing, loom weaving, wool spinning and pănură making

TI

Tiran Ion

Breb, no. 219 B
Woodworking

Wooden gates, timber-frame houses, traditional fences

VT

Voichita Tascan

Breb, no. 345
Traditional textiles

Folk shirt sewing

IB

Ileana Borodi

Budești, no. 829
Traditional textiles

Maramureș folk shirts, loom weaving, woollen fabrics

HV

Haiducean Vasile & Haiducean Juja

Sârbi, no. 173
Wool processing

Wool carding, loom, fulling mill, whirlpool (vâltoare)

PP

Pralea Petru

Sârbi, no. 120
Wood carving

Bottles with wooden fittings, small wood sculptures

AA

Ana Andreica (works with Georgeta Iuga)

Călinești, no. 374
Traditional costumes

Maramureș folk shirts, belts, beaded necklaces

CV

Cupcea Victoria

Călinești, no. 37A
Wool working

Woven bags, woollen vests (pieptare), loom weaving, wool processing

AM

Andreica Marișca

Călinești, no. 516
Traditional textiles

Wool spinning, pănură making, loom weaving, woven towels

CP

Chindris Palaghie

Călinești, no. 168
Traditional costumes

Makes woollen cloaks (gube)

BM

Berinde Mărioara

Călinești
Traditional textiles

Traditional loom weaving

NP

Nemeș Petru (Vasalie)

Călinești
Woodworking

Wood processing, makes lenkere

IG

Ileana Godja

Văleni, no. 411 A
Wool working

Wool processing

IȘ

Ileana și Petre Pop

Desești
Traditional costumes

Sheepskin coat maker (cojocar)

There are about 20 such craftsmen in the area. Look for the signposts marking their houses, or ask your host for directions.

Try it yourself — a one-day craft workshop

If you'd like a one-day tour of the Maramureș craftsmen, get in touch with our guides — they can arrange a tour of the artisans, plus the chance to learn alongside them how to make objects that carry the identity of the place:

zgărdane (folk-costume beads)Maramureș hatswool-felt slipperssmall wood sculptures

You can take the objects you make home with you — they will remind you of the days spent in Maramureș in a very special way.