Slovenian majolica

National Museum of Slovenia – Metelkova, Ljubljana, July 16–October 31, 2020

Intermunicipal Museum Kamnik – Zaprice Castle, November 18, 2020–May 18, 2022

Majolica, a wine with a spherical belly and a three-leaf mouth with a funnel, has a special status in the Slovenian tradition. It has become, so to speak, a mythological object, closely connected with the identity of the Slovene nation. As a symbol of good and happy company, it is sung by folk songs.

Majolica is also a recognizable symbol of Kamnik. Due to its painting and preservation of its traditional form, the Kamnik majolica is a great specialty on a Slovenian and global scale. It combines elements of traditional folk crafts, manufacturing as well as more modern large-scale production, although each majolica is a unique product. The best known are those made by the Svit Kamnik ceramic factory from the beginning of the 1950s until the end of its existence in 2008. They are equipped with city coats of arms, flower arrangements or greetings for important anniversaries and milestones, were a popular gift and decoration of home cooking. However, wine handles – majolica were not the only ones made, many new motifs and patterns were added to this traditional form in the Ljubljana factory Dekor.

Joint project of the National Museum of Slovenia and the Intermunicipal Museum Kamnik. Authors of the exhibition: dr. Mateja Kos, Zora Žbontar, Saša Rudolf, Saša Bučan, Marko Kumer and Irena Radej.