The first degree of craft tutorial wascrafts study is known as apprenticeship. Historically, crafts were taught mostly to children coming from villages/peasants’village families, …or sons (what about daughters in textiles??) of masters wishing to continue the family tradition. Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship the master issued the a certificate of apprentice’sattesting to the apprentice’s accomplishment conduc and t, skill achieved and the period spent at work. In order to transfer to another degree* the apprentice had to pass themust pass a kind of exam.

* there are three degrees known with usin the Balkans : shegrt (means>apprentice), kalfa (medium degree, is there equivalent in the US equivalent to an associate?) and master.

In order to protect their own rights and interests, and also to regulate liabilities, craftspeople were once organized in special associations – the guilds. Turkish rule had a great impact on the foundation of guilds throughout Serbia in the first decades of XIX century. At that time guilds did not have written regulations but inherited guild orders were widely respected. Prince Milos himself solved many of the guild issues and problems.

Manufacturing of kilims, within the folk textile tradition in Serbia doubtlessly occupies the foremost position in the history of Serbian handicrafts. The kilim has the status of one of the most significant Serbian national symbols. It was used as unique and indispensable object both in wedding and funeral rituals.

Pirot is a town in southeast Serbia reknowned since the second half of XIX century as the center for kilim production. It was the most important branch of the local economy. Prior to this, women produced kilim on upright looms exclusively for the needs of their households. Thereafter, kilims were produced widely in the professional craft workshops. In that period Pirot developed obtained commercial companies specializing in the sale of kilims.

Today, there remain only few workshops employing weavers working with looms. They produce kilims as unique artifacts reminding of old traditions/as behest of ancient generations.

It is broadly accepted impression among cultural and economic experts that Serbia underutilizes this tremendous cultural asset and economic potential.

The promotion of the new book `Old Crafts in Serbia` is the first phase in the implementation of a project called the Support to Safeguarding and Fostering of Old Crafts in the Republic of Serbia led by the Ministry of Commerce of Serbia. Primary contributors are from the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade. This publication features a detailed study of the most well-known crafts in Serbia, as well as the trends concerning their safeguarding in the era of new technologies and media.