MASTER POTTER RASTISLAV HARONIK 

AND HIS

FOLK HOUSE IN VYSEHRADNE

PART ONE

International, all European organization Europa Nostra, united with the International Institution of Castles is awarding medals and diplomas for protection of European architectural and natural heritage. The action is sponsored by the American Express Foundation.

In 1993, the organization has received 150 proposals from 19 European countries and awarded 6 medals and 39 diplomas. Two contenders from Slovakia were awarded diplomas for 1993. House No. 142 in Brhlovce restored by the Tekov museum in Levice. This is the house with living space carved out of stone in the part of the mountain and house No. 898 in Vysehradne.

I told you in the last issue about my meeting of Rastislav Haronik and a visiting his house and little private museum. Here is his story:

"It all started while studying folk ceramics at the Secondary School of Art in Bratislava. Here I started to collect ceramics; our professor Mr. Luxor was a collector too. He was storing part his collection in the display cabinet at the school and sometimes he asked us to sketch it. My interest continued visiting the old ceramic exhibit and the Slovak National Museum in Martin and it was here where I really discovered the beauty of folk ceramics. They have ceramics collection from all the areas of Slovakia. My collection started in Sklabina a village near Martin where I found my first pieces.

I continued in Western Slovakia, as this was the closest area to Bratislava. I used to visit my schoolmates in Myjava and surrounding villages; I visited Trnava on many occasions. For instance I have lot of majolica pieces in my collection from that area. During my travels for collecting ceramics I happened upon historic folk objects made from wood, iron and my collection grew.

It was then, when I started thinking about a permanent place for my collection. So I started to look for an old house in different parts of Slovakia and at last I have discovered more or less by accident this house and bought it in 1975."

GO TO PART TWO

GO TO MASTER POTTER RASTISLAV HARONIK

GO TO FOLK ARTISTS

GO  TO TOWNS AND VILLAGES

Published in the Slovak Heritage Live newsletter Volume 2, No. 3, Fall 1994
Copyright © Vladimir Linder 1994 
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The above article and photographs may not be copied, reproduced, republished, or redistributed by any means including electronic, without the express written permission of Vladimir Linder. All rights reserved.