Fruit-growing and viticulture

Number of Cases

210

In the Roman Empire, outside the Apennine Peninsula, the first vines were grown seventeen centuries ago in the territory of today's Serbia. The world's largest producer and exporter of plums in the 19th century was the Serbian state, and to this day our plum brandy is considered a prime alcoholic drink on all continents.

Viticulture and winemaking are represented through objects that bear witness to all the processes related to the cultivation of vines and the harvesting of grapes and their processing. In that procedure, planters, viticultural axes and hoes, sprinklers, mowers, knives, scissors and pliers were used for cutting and pruning vines. For harvesting, baskets were used for transferring grapes, and for pressing, muddlers and hand-held presses and presses for mechanical crushing and pressing were used.

Plum brandy was made when needed throughout the year, and the best batch would remain sealed in special barrels until wedding, birth and baptism of a son, or a send-off to the army. The preparation from the harvest to the fermented mass that was put into the cauldrons is documented by a plum box, wooden tubs and barrels for fermentation, ladles for muddling and transferring, a trough and other objects. Due to the different conditions of the soil and climate, numerous other types of fruit were grown for food as well as for fruit brandies.

The collection consists of about 210 items.

The curator in charge of the collection is Dr. Marko Stojanović, museum adviser, is in charge of the collection: marko.stojanovic@etnografskimuzej.rs

Picker – beračica

Inv. No. 27869

Picker – beračica

Inv. No. 30138

Pitcher – kondir

Inv. No. 49827

Glass jug fermenter

Inv. No. 51313

Glass jug fermenter

Inv. No. 51770

Vineyard sprayer

Inv. No. 49684

Kosir, kačija – billhook

Inv. No. 31940

Equipment for the vineyard barrel

Inv. No. 51303

Knitted flask

Inv. No. 51312

Fruit press

Inv. No. 33042

Back to the List

Picker – beračica

Inv. No. 27869

It was used for fruit picking. The displayed item is made of hazelwood. It consists of a sapa—a long rod through which sharp pickers pass in the upper part. The pickers are woven in a spiral manner, creating the appearance of a small basket used for picking apples.

Brezova, Ušće, Studenica, Serbia
Mid-20th century

Picker – beračica

Inv. No. 30138

Pickers like this one have been made since the 1960s. The item is made of sheet metal, round in shape, with one side serrated. It has a handle on the side. The flat side is used to place a small basket. The displayed picker was used for picking apples.

Baranda, Banat, Serbia
20th century

Pitcher – kondir

Inv. No. 49827

Kondir is a type of pitcher used for storing beverages. The displayed example is made of clay and was created at the Temska Monastery near Pirot. With medieval forms, it was made in the style of the 15th century. Unique clay items like this one are crafted by folk artists, potters.

Temska Monastery, Pirot, southern Serbia
19th century

Glass jug fermenter

Inv. No. 51313

It was used for storing wine and brandy, made of glass.

Zaječar, Timočka Krajina, Serbia
20th century

Glass jug fermenter

Inv. No. 51770

A 25-liter balloon was purchased in the mid-20th century at a shop in Knjaževac. It belonged to Milorad Kostić (born 1921) from Gornje Zuničje and was inherited by his son. It was used for storing brandy.

Knjaževac, Eastern Serbia
Mid-20th century

Vineyard sprayer

Inv. No. 49684

The item is used in agriculture for vineyard work. The sprayer consists of two parts—the spraying tube and the canister for the solution. It was worn on the back of the vineyard worker.

Sokobanja, Smederevo, central Serbia
Early 20th century

Kosir, kačija – billhook

Inv. No. 31940

A tool for cutting fruit. Made of iron, forged. The tip is rounded and sharp on the inside. The handle is widened with a hole for hanging the handle.

Drsnik, Klina, Metohija
Second half of the 20th century

Equipment for the vineyard barrel

Inv. No. 51303

Made of metal. It consists of a ring used for rotating the body and a drill. At the top, there is a ring that extends into a long body, which at the bottom transforms and ends in a spiral-shaped drill.

ТTrubaravo, Ćićevac, central Serbia
Second half of the 20th century

Knitted flask

Inv. No. 51312

A glass container for storing wine and brandy. It has a pear-shaped form, woven with willow branches, and a handle on the side for carrying.

Zaječar, Serbia
20th century

Fruit press

Inv. No. 33042

A device for crushing fruit for brandy, primarily plums. It is made of wood and consists of two thicker, elliptical plates that are slightly narrower at one end.

Sjeverin, Priboj, Serbia
Second half of the 20th century