Stove-Making Trade
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area : Srce Slowenije |
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category : traditional craftmanship |
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The stove-making trade is an old craft which deals with manufacturing glazed tiles, building and manufacturing stoves and ovens and lining of walls with ceramic tiles. In Lukovica and the surrounding places the stove-making trade has been alive for decades. Franc Avbelj has been engaged in stove-making since his childhood and has been a registered craftsman since 1984. Before that his father was in the stove-making trade as well.
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The workshop of the Avbelj family boasts an over sixty-year tradition. In 2005, Franc had his knowledge confirmed by passing a master craftsman exam and even before that he received a certificate from the Home Crafts and Applied Art Section with the Chamber of Craft of Slovenia for the articles he makes by hand in his workshop. From the very beginning of the workshop there has been a constant production of glazed tiles for glazed tile stoves and fireplaces; moreover, since 1980 the business has been renowned for its unique article, i.e. manually-fired pavers. While most businesses are giving manual work up the Avbelj\'s see to it that it is preserved. They are firmly convinced that a mechanically manufactured product does not have the quality and messages of substance as a hand made product.
All their products have always been made from natural materials since they emphasize the traditionality of an old stove-making business. The basis for the production of glazed tiles (kahel) is a mould made of plaster; it is cast using a wooden engraving matrix. The stove-maker kneads grey clay into the mould so that all the details and the characteristic size are impressed. Then an unfired tile is taken from the mould and placed on a shelf until it dries completely. The formed soft clay dries for two days so that it becomes so dry and hard that it can be held in hands. It must not bend. Then the semi-product is treated by means of stones, cuts and holes are made into the supports of the tile; this is necessary so that later on it binds in the oven. The glazed tile then needs about one month to harden slowly. Only then it becomes suitable for firing in the stove-makers oven and for being ornamented by means of glazing coatings. Before it is fired, the green-broken or natural glazing is added. The tile with glazing is fired in the oven where the temperatures rise up to 900 degrees Celsius. Quality glazed tiles are then selected while those of inferior quality are eliminated and crushed for other purposes. The entire procedure takes three months and during this time the stove-maker takes each product in his hands about fifty times.
The material for the production of glazed tiles is grey clay which is excavated in the commons of Komenda. The clay needs to be excavated at least two years prior to it being used so it freezes over during the winter, which makes it more fragile and kneadable and at the same time improves its quality. The clay is then kneaded by means of a machine so that it becomes absolutely homogeneous. If it is too greasy some silica sand is added as it makes glazed tiles firmer.
The Avbelj\'s make most of their products to order as people’s wishes are left to their imagination. They also make classic farm and brick ovens. They have not built a stove or laid pavers in the field for several years now, they prefer recommending renowned stove-makers who build from brick material and lay pavers.
Franc Avbelj has a successor, a son who is already getting familiar with the craft and helps his father in the workshop. Otherwise Franc Avbelj employs two local persons on a permanent basis. He is well aware of the fact that their knowledge and handicraft are specific. Consequently, he does not hide the skills; moreover, he enjoys sharing them with others. He receives and trains apprentices from the Secondary School for Construction, Geodesy and Economy Ljubljana. Moreover, several times a year he participates in thematic craftsmanship fairs where he presents his work and profession although their form of promotion is rather expensive.
Franc Avbelj thinks that the stove-making trade is beautiful, the respective work is a nice and demanding profession, which is why workers must be respected, particularly the quality work they have performed. People who are engaged in a craft and earn their living in this way must be very patient, of wide horizons, open-minded and industrious. |
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