Listed 1 sub titles with search on: Occupations of the inhabitants for destination: "LESVOS Island NORTH AEGEAN".
Archaeological finds provide evidence that Lesvians have been involved
with the arts since the 14th century BC. Owing to the plentiful deposits of clay
on the island Pottery, and to a lesser extend the working of copper, flourished
Gradually Lesvos became a well-known pottery centre and numerous workshops were
established, especially at the areas of Ayiassos and Mandamados. In the workshops
various ceramic objects for daily or ornamental use were produced. The decorative
motives had their origin in the Byzantine tradition and the beauty of the Lesvian
nature. The above small towns (Ayiasos and Mandamados) keep the tradition in pottery
to this day and characteristic samples of the art are exhibited at the Folk Art
Museums and Folk Collections of the island.
Fretwork also flourished, owing to the abundance of wood mainly from
olive and chestnut trees. Fretwork was used in monasteries and churches for the
creation of icon screens, iconostases and other objects and in houses (in ?sachnisinia?
(wooden balconies), roofs, doors, stairs) and of course in furniture. Even today
the wooden chest or ?Kassela? decorates the Lesvian house. In this case too, the
decorative motives commonly used echo the Byzantine tradition and nature. Today,
the visitor can admire older fretwork items at Folk Art Museums and Folk Collections
as well as visit wood carving workshops.
The island was also famous for its weaving: yarns dyed with plant
dyes were used to weave colourful textiles in wooden looms. Weaving was an occupation
reserved to women. In this case too, it is nature that provides most of the motifs
used. The visitor can admire samples of this craft at the Folk Art Collections
of the island and also buy unique traditional textiles from various workshops
and Women?s Co-operatives at the villages and small towns of Lesvos.
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