The Living Tradition of Serbian Gold Embroidery in Deszk

The characteristic and ornamental feature of Serbian costumes is the gold and silver embroidery decoration on various pieces of clothing. The 'golden bonnet' from Deszk is recorded as early as the 1810s in the estate inventories of Serbian families.

The characteristic convex gold embroidery is sewn with thin metal threads and tiny stitches, then decorated with tiny sequins and coloured beads. This old embroidery technique is now a living tradition in the village, thanks in part to the work of the "Arany kezek" (Golden Hands) Handicraft Workshop of the Serbian Cultural Association of Banat in Deszk. Thanks to their work, Serbian textile culture, with a special emphasis on gold embroidery, has become a living tradition again, a part of everyday life and public awareness, and an integral part of everyday cultural life. The practice of Serbian gold embroidery in Deszk contributes to the preservation and transmission of the cultural heritage of the Serbian national minority in Hungary.

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