On Wednesday, December 22, the exhibition Dark embroidery – road to the unknown was opened at the Konavle County Museum. The opening was held as a part of the public event Scents of Christmas – Dark embroidery, mantala, and toast. As the title partly reveals, the exhibition presents so-called dark embroidery that completely disappeared from the use as a part of Konavle's traditional costume at the end of the 19th century. More on this topic was explained by the author of the exhibition and the director of the Museums and Galleries of Konavle, Antonia Rusković Radonić.
The exhibited objects were collected from numerous households from the Konavle region, while the exhibition also features various drafts and dark embroidery samples collected or made by teacher Jelka Miš. For the exhibition, a banner of the Močići Brotherhood was borrowed, which was completely embroidered with dark embroidery style.
The representative of Konavle Agrotourism Association Andrejko Marinović addressed the audience, introducing the local families who prepared mantala (traditional sweet prepared from boiled-down grape must), accentuating the Đivanović family farm, which honored the audience with homemade prosecco. The exhibition was opened by Julijana Antić Brautović, until recently the director of the Dubrovnik Museums, but today the Head of the Administrative Department for Culture of the City of Dubrovnik.
The klapa KUD Čilipi (Folklore Society Čilipi), Konavle’s youngest toastmasters Vlaho Županović and Lukša Prokurica, and the youngest Konavle performer on ljerica instrument, Matija Mujo performed at the opening. In addition, all guests were able to enjoy various Konavle mantalas prepared by hardworking Konavle women from the Konavle Agrotourism Association.
