In a small village near Bajina Bašta a two hundred years old family tradition still lives on. In two small workshops, the seventh generations of Radovanovic family makes flasks, cannikins, small tubs and spoons from maple trees.
They have been making wooden flasks and other similar products since 1810. This family has become famous worldwide for their skilled craftsmanship and decorating skills. Their products are sought after in Canada, United States of America, Australia and west Europe.
Various xylographs, landscapes, inscriptions, saints and images adorn these flasks of different sizes. It is up to the customer to decide how his flask will look and what size will it be. Family Radovanovic sells around five thousand unique flasks annualy. Flasks are a part of several centuries old tradition, they are used to invite guests to your wedding.
Skilled artisans make flasksfrom mature beech, maple or willow trees. The flasks are of differen sizes, from ¼ liter to 2 liter, but they can also be made bigger. When the flasks are finished, images of saints, churches or landscapes are imprinted on them, according to the customers’ desire. The products that stand out, are the flasks decorated with wooden carvings.
Milorad Radovanovic’s ancestors used to make flasks from willow trees using a so-called foot powered lathe. This way of making flasks wasn’t very productive, as they only made five to six per day. Even though Milorad is familiar with the old ways, nowadays more machines are used and maple is the wood of choice.
However, the flasks retain the traditional look and shape. Maple is used instead of willow because it is more suitable and long-lasting. All flasks are made of natural materials, without glue or metal and the inside part is coated in wax. Apart from the authentic look, this also gives them additional value, which is sought after in the modern times.
Even though the craft improved with the assistance of modern technology, the products remained the same. The thing that did change during time is their use. Back in the day they were unavoidable and were used in everyday life; nowadays they are primarily souvenirs. Many people who buy a flask, a cannikin or a small tub use them as ornaments in their homes.
Nevertheless, the value of these products is great, regardless of their use. Their production protects old crafts, Serbian tradition and spirituality. The importance of this old craft has been recognized by the Republic of Serbia and it is now on the list of intangible cultural heritage.
Descendants of Radovanovic family actively participate in the family business and they plan on following the footsteps of the two centuries old tradition that is kept in their family. Not only will this ensure that their woodcraft technique lives on, but it will also preserve another old craft from being forgotten.
Wooden flasks popular in Europe, Australia and USA
There are buyers in Canada, Australia, USA and Europe. They are mostly Serbs from diaspora who want to protect the centuries-old tradition of inviting guests to a wedding with a flask. Additionally, products that are made in this way, out of wood from Tara mountain and hand-painted, are sought after because of their uniqueness and beautiful images, motifs and xylographs that adorn them.
Many tourists and foreigners heard of Radovanovic family and their two centuries old craft through internet.
They buy these handmade products primarily as ornaments, but also because of the fact that they can choose how their flask will look like. In this way they get a unique product without a duplicate.
Radovanovic family plans to further improve their business, in order to better meet the the needs of the customers.
Wooden flasks can be bought in their shop on Tara mountain, as well as in Belgrade on Vracar where the local government provided around twenty manufacturers who practice old time crafts with a place to sell their products.
