Crafts and Fairs

The right to hold fairs was granted to Gornja Radgona in 1360, to Lendava and Murska Sobota in 1366 and to Ljutomer in the 18th century. Craftsmen sold their wares at these fairs.

Until the First World War, fairs influenced the development of various crafts. The following crafts were well developed in rural areas and larger centres: weaving, pottery (one of the oldest and most widespread domestic craft in this region), milling, shoemaking, leatherworking, wheelwrighting, blacksmithing, sawmilling, carpentry, tailoring, sewing, gingerbread making, cooperage, saddlery. Two crafts that were important in Slovenske Gorice towards the end of the 19th century were joinery, specifically the manufacture of inlaid furniture (following the model of the urban middle class), and brickmaking, for the construction and fitting out of rural houses. Craftsmen joined together in various associations such as guilds, leagues, cooperatives and chambers.

Photo: Tomislav Vrečič