20-24 septembrie 2009 - Biblioteca Metropolitana Bucuresti

The evolution of the city of Moscopole. Rise and decay 801silver objects produced here. Historian Marcel Romanescu wrote aboutMoscopole in his study of the Aromanian silversmiths in the Balkans:“We must remember that metal processing was a common business inMoscopole and that the metal usually came from Venice together withnew models for the craftsmen and new artistic elements which were to beadapted by the craftsmen. The town of Moscopole had commercial relationswith Brancoveanu (the prince of the Romanian Pricipate of Wallachia)and actually appears to have been the main intermediary of the exchangesbetween Wallachia and Venice. This is important to explain the spread ofthe silver objects made in Moscopole in the Romanian Principates and thedevelopment of the most important art of the Macedonian – RomaniansThe Carpenters’ GuildWood was used in constructions in addition to othermaterials. Wood was brought from the mountains by the caravans.Wood and wood beams proved to be very resistant during thecenturies. The ceiling of St. Friday’s Church and also the ceiling of St.Joshua’s Church were made of wood painted in redThe Potters’ GuildPottery was used in social and cultural buildings: the printing press,churches, the New Academy, even palaces. They worked on the frontalornaments of the churches and combined their ornaments with whiteand grey stone. They also made household items: small or large pots forcooking and keeping the water, pots for plants on the balconies, porchesand courtyards.The Candlemakers’ GuildThey made candles of various sizes used in churches as lights and forthe religious ritual or used by the people in their homes.The Weavers’ GuildThey made cloth and clothes of various materials: wool, silk, cotton.They made women’s clothes and men’s clothes either of coarse wool or ofsoft materials with floral and geometrical designs.XI. The Commerce in MoscopoleThe inhabitants of Moscopole, “good cousins of the Jews”, asthe Farsherot Aromanians called them, had a great influence upon thedevelopment of the commerce in the Balkan Peninsula. They carriedtheir business in the Adriatic Sea area, in Macedonia, in the Italianports and in towns and villages such as Ohrida, Siacista, Moloviste,