download - Turistička zajednica grada Dubrovnika

HeritageNapisala/By Tereza Gović BuconićFragrant House Shop-windowNa čempresovim šticama poda, u društvupostelja, domaćih tapita od krpica,koltrina na funjestri i koraka koji su dolazilii odlazili uvijek istim ritmom, buroje vremenom postao stanar kuće, dragocjeninamještaj u čije je drvo i tkivo ušladuša i ljubav ukućana.Old houses in the City and the villageshad similar pieces of furniture.Richer city houses lived in opulence,and valuable pieces of furniturebrought on ships from foreign countriesadorned their lounges and bedrooms.Village houses, on the other hand, hadjust a few pieces of furniture – a table,a chest, a bench, a bed and at least onechest of drawers, this old fashioned commodewith drawers and brazen handles.The chest of drawers stood in a noticeableplace in the room and a mirror wasplaced above it. Covered with a napkin,it contained bed linen and underclothes.It was made of precious wood, andits polish was as smooth as silk. Withrounded edges and four spacious drawersornamented with painted birds andflowers, it contained fine things carefullyfolded and preserved by silence andlavender flower fragrance.Chests of drawers smelled of the secretive,sweet and elusive breath left behindclean linen. They contained nightgowns,underskirts, crocheted napkins,kerchiefs, children’s belts, bodices andfestive clothes worn on Sundays, whenold people go to church dressed intheir finest garments with a rosary andprayer-book in their hands.Each drawer was reserved for a differenthousehold member, in the order whichthe mistress of the house determinedwisely and practically. Carefully andwith both hands, she would pull thedrawers out holding the brazen handles,and the luxurious, white, tidy and fragranthouse shop-window opened up infront of her. The fullness of the antiquechest of drawers always made her faceopen up like a flower, because peopleand pieces of furniture share their moodsand lives.Above this commode, next to the mirrorstood the framed pictures of saints,so that Our Lady and Jesus smilinglywatched the whiteness and neatnesswith which the mistress of the housestacked and took out the linen lovinglyand carefully.As wedding gifts, chests of drawerswere taken into the bridegroom’s house,remaining there for many generationsand keeping the old jewellery in a secretcompartment. It was hidden under thelinen in a little wooden box. When themistress of the house opened it, a goldbead necklace, a signet-ring, earrings,corals and golden bracelets gave outtheir yellow light.Standing on cypress-wood floor boards,together with beds, home-made patchworkrugs, window curtains and thefootsteps that came and went always inthe same rhythm, the chest of drawersin time became a lodger in the house,and the wood of this precious piece offurniture became imbued with the souland love of household members.Chest ofDrawersWin t e r 2010/11Wel c o m e to Du b r o v n i k 39