Livre - Τα Κρητικά καλάθια

The Museum of Cretan Ethnology (MCE), an institution of the Cultural Association of Messara – Crete, designed a pilot-program for the investigation and development in the area of five traditional crafts of Crete: Basket-Making, Pottery, Hand Woven Fabrics, Metal Works in Architecture and Furniture-Making. The program was presented to European Social Found (ESF) and after it was accepted it was undertaken by the MCE. It was co-financed by the ESF and the Greek Ministry of Culture. Part of the program was the research on the above crafts. The book on hand presents the material gathered after the research on traditional cretan baskets and basket making. The book gives information on the different types of baskets that were in use on the island, the social-economic background of the craftsmen, the trade of baskets, the tools, the materials and the actual making of baskets. It also suggests a series of propositions for the survival and development of the craft in the modern economy. 12.2 THE BASKETS The research on the island revealed more than 24 different types of baskets that were in use at the turn of the century. They are presented in chapter 3. The 24 more important types of baskets are: “ KALATHI ” (3.01, p. 18). The most common basket to be found on the island. Outside the cities, everyone in the family had his/her own kalathi. It was used for the carrying of fruit, vegetables, eggs, etc. “ KANISKARA ” (3.02, p. 22). Basket for washing and stocking the linens, for stocking the clothing, the row cotton or wool, etc. “ PETROCOFINO ” (3.03, p. 24). A heavy-use basket. It was used in construction, catle-breeding and agriculture (carrying away soil, stones, animal litter, etc.). “ COFINI ” (3.04, p. 26) Basket used in the gathering of grapes that were intended to be dried (stafitha). The grapes were collected in the cofini, sunk into a special substance to protect them from spoiling while drying and were drained through the weave as they were carried to where they would be exposed for drying. “ TRYGOCOFINO ” (3.05, p. 28) Basket of the central-west Crete. It was used for the carrying of wine-grapes by the animals (mule-donkeys). “ STAFILOCOFINO ” (3.06, p. 30). Basket of the western Crete. Of the same use as trygocofino (3.05). “ COFA ” (3.07, p. 32). For the same use as the above two Baskets. It was found in eastern and central-east Crete. “ ARTOCOFIN1THA ” (3.08, p. 34) Basket of the central and eastern Crete. It was used for keeping the bread in it (cretan bread was always made dried and in big quantities). “ COFINIDA ” (3.09, p.36). Huge basket (up to six foot high) that was used for keeping the wheat in it. “ CHOCHLITHOCOFINO ” (3.10, p. 38). Used for the keeping of snails. An appreciated meal for the Cretans. “ EEL-BASKETS ” (3.11, p. 39). Basket for the keeping (in the water) of eels. “ BEE-HIVE ” (3.12, p. 40). “ KOYTALIERA ” (3.13, p. 41). Basket of central Crete. Used for draining and stocking the forks and spoons. “ MATHARA ” (3.14, p. 42). Basket for the making of “ misithra ” (white, soft cheese). “ TOUPI ” (3.15, p. 44). The basket in which the cretan “ graviera ” was made (yellow, fat cheese). “ KERTOS ” (3.16, p. 46). Kertos was to be found along the north coast of the island. It was a fish trap. “ DARMITZANA ” (3.17, p. 48). It was used for the keeping of wine or (mostly) “raki ” (cretan strong spirit). “ PANIERI ” (3.18, p. 50) Basket for church and house uses. “ FLASKI ” (3.19, p. 53) Flaski was a pumpkin, made-up into a flask and weaved all around for its protection while carrying. “ SORAPO PANIERI ” (3.20, p. 54). Always women-made. For home use. “ PANIERI RAFTO ” (3.21, p. 56). Similar to the previous basket. Also made by women weavers. Heavily embroidered basket, it was intended for ceremonial uses. “ KERTARI ” (3.22, p. 68). Eel-trap of the central and east Crete. “ CHELOPAGITHA ” (3.23, p. 70). Eel-trap of western Crete. “ MOYRITHI ” (3.24, p. 72). Muzzle. 12.3 THE CRAFTSMEN AND THE CRAFT Due to the successive occupations of Crete by different conquerors who always wanted to take advantage of the natural wealth of the island, poverty had been the rule for the natives until the turn of our century. Trade was minimal and without any money involved (exchange trade). Since each family was producing most of the goods it needed, only few specialized crafts were to be found. Basket making was one of them. Due to the simplicity of the art and the tools needed, the basket weavers were to many to be supported by their own craft. Most of the basket weavers were working only seasonally, for the harvest and were taking care of their land during the rest of the year. Very few were making baskets all year round. During the summer, basket making was intense since thousands of baskets were needed throughout the island for the harvest. The money earned by a days work was, for the basket weaver, a little lower than the average wage. The basket makers were weaving all week long and during Sundays they were taking their production to nearby villages, or market places where they could sell it. There were times they had to travel long distances to sell their baskets. In earlier times, there used to be basket makers that were going to distant villages, where there were no craftsmen of their craft. They were staying there for the season, weaving and selling their production. The map on pages 107-108 shows the major “ kalathochoria ” villages where many basket weavers were found) and the distribution of baskets throughout Crete during the years 1920-1940. The “ kalathochoria ” were usually found on the mountain slops, where land was not fertile. The baskets were usually exchanged for potatoes, beans, eggs and other food. The actual technics in basket making were the same throughout the island, with unimportant local differentiations in the finishing. The forms, however, were different from area to area. Different parts of Crete were influencing each other with the exception of western Crete (Chania), that was more or less isolated. 12.4 SUPPORTING AND UTILISING THE CRAFT. Preserving all things that built and determined a country's culture, has always been described in terms of national identity and inheritance. However, the arts and crafts of the past – or at least, most of them – can have a creative presence in modern societies and for this they should be described in more practical terms. Crafts can offer their aid against unemployment. They can offer homework to those who cannot or is not easy for them to work outdoors (the physically limited, parents of young children, etc.) They can offer labor to villages where the necessary understructure for industrial activities does not exist. Apart from the above “conventional" uses, the traditional crafts have the unique quality of offering the possibility for personal expression. A valuable aid in avoiding the loss of identity (and the consequent cultural and ethical deterioration) that is experienced by working in the impersonal factories of our times and other modern labors. Of course, if the traditional crafts are to survive in the present society, state intervention is necessary. As the social-economic model changes, the products of traditional crafts are losing their utility, while at the same time they become unprofitable since the traditional production procedures cannot compete with modern technology. Today, the few basket weavers of Crete sell their baskets mainly to the “ tourist shops ” of the island (shops for souvenirs etc.). The touristic development of the island, along with the late fashion for folk art and hand made products, gave the craftsmen a new market. This market is, however, small and not growing. Since the above market is not fading, it can and should be retained. It can be further utilized in two ways. It can be enlarged “ horizontally ”; by selling to more retailers in Crete, the rest of Greece and abroad. It can also be enlarged "vertically ", by producing different designs, for different uses. Basket weaving doesn't mean only “ askets ”. Many examples of imported, basket weaved, utility producers are to be found in the market but new ones can be invented as well. The same products can be sold to a similar market that exists today in the cities, selling bamboo objects, basket-like products and baskets for decorative or functional use in modern houses. Most of those products are imported from Asiatic countries that – due to low wages – can offer hand-made products at a very low first cost. Here state intervention will be necessary for imposing special import taxes, for the protection of the Greek producers. While retaining their traditional products, basket makers, should venture into new industries as well. To win a bigger and more permanent market, they should get detached from the “ basket ”idea or even from the idea of the finished product. They should – cooperating with the wright designers – use their art for new, more complex products, part or parts of which will consist of weaved rods. Their art can be combined with wood, metal, glass, or other materials to enable basket weaving to enter other areas of industry, like the furniture industry. Basket making offers many different weaving patterns and technics and different materials and their combinations. Bulrushes, earn of grain “ rafto ” or “ sorapo " weave) and combinations like the one found on “ toupi ” are available, besides the various rods, giving interesting effects. To put the above into practice, the foundation of a state organization will be necessary. The institution thus found will be a link between the craftsmen and the government. It will be planning and aiding the growth of this industry. Of course, it can be a wider scope organization, for all the traditional crafts, one of which is basket making. The activities of such and organization will be multiple. It will be promoting the sales of the mentioned products through showrooms etc. At the same time, it will be aiding the craftsmen by circulating information on designes, materials, know-how, etc. It can offer specialized services, from supporting materials (a great assistance for the craftsmen who doesn't live in the country-side), to providing a quality guaranty stamp. The above are no more than a few suggestions, intending mostly to show a few of the different ways on which the development of basket weaving and the other traditional crafts can be channelled. The actual task of the programing for such a development, will have to be done by the craftsmen involved, with government aid. A complete study on the subject is available by the EMC: “Crafts of Crete: Social and Economic Study”.