Croatian lace-making on new gold collector euro coins
- by croatiaweek
- in News
(Photo credit: Branimir Kralj)
The Croatian Mint continues to promote Croatian tradition, cultural heritage and art worldwide by issuing the gold collector coins “Lace-making in Croatia” with a new design.
In the 15th century, lace emerged in Europe, laying the foundation for what we would consider an invaluable cultural heritage several centuries later.
Lace makers initially crafted lace for the clergy and the nobility, but it later permeated into the general population and became part of the ethnographic heritage. It adorned traditional women’s clothing and linen, but over the years, it began to face the threat of oblivion.
The tradition continued to be passed down from generation to generation, as well as UNESCO’s proclamation and its place on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
It is now considered that lace makers in Croatia use two main lace-making techniques: needle lace and bobbin lace. Furthermore, in Croatia, there are several lace-making centres: the town of Lepoglava with bobbin lace, the town of Pag with needle lace, the town of Hvar with agave lace, and the municipality of Sveta Marija in Međimurje with Sveta Marija lace, characterised by the unique feature of being made from a single continuous thread.
The new design of the gold collector coins “Lace-making in Croatia” is the result of the artistic talent of the academic sculptor Stjepan Divković.
(Photo: Croatian Mint)
The gold coins are available in three nominal values: 100 € (weight 1 ounce), 25 € (weight 1/4 ounce), and 10 € (weight 1/16 ounce).
(Photo: Croatian Mint)
The obverse of the gold coins features a stylised representation of lace from Pag, Lepoglava, and Hvar, each distinct in terms of their stitching/crocheting techniques or the materials used.
The reverse of the coin, on the other hand, showcases the motif of St. Mary lace, characterised by its unique construction from a single unbroken thread.
(Photo credit: Branimir Kralj)
The Croatian Mint thanked the municipality of Sveta Marija, the town of Pag, the town of Lepoglava and the town of Hvar for their support and for granting the rights to use lace motifs on new collector coins.
Each of the coins come in a gift box with a certificate signed by the governor of the Croatian National Bank.
(Photo: Croatian Mint)
The gold collector coins “Lace-making in Croatia” can be purchased through the web store of the Croatian Mint or from certain sales partners.
