St. Anthony's courtyard (Antoniuse Gild) description and photos - Estonia: Tartu (Topic)

St. Anthony's courtyard (Antoniuse Gild) description and photo - Estonia: Tartu. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Antoniuse Gild.

Photo and description

In the historic center of Tartu, in the Jaani quarter, there is the St. Anthony's courtyard, where the Guild of St. Anthony operates. This is a place where true masters of their craft work, who love arts and crafts. The courtyard includes 3 buildings: a pottery workshop, a craftsmen's house and a guild building.

The Guild of St. Anthony is an organization uniting professional applied artists, artists and artisans. In written sources, the Guild was first mentioned in 1449 as the Small Guild, or the Guild of St. Anthony, which included urban artisans. The patron saint of the Tartu Small Guild was St. Anthony, and it was in his honor that this association was named. Handicrafts were considered the main craft of local residents. Those masters who were not part of the Guild, did not have the right to practice their craft and sell their products within the city.

Today, the task of the Guild is to support and develop Estonian arts and crafts. The masters of the Guild of St. Anthony are creative people who love their work, respect traditions and ancient craft skills, the products they make are made with soul. Craftsmen work in three buildings of St. Anthony's courtyard. The pottery workshop was the first to start its work. This happened three years before the official revival of the Guild, i.e. in 1996. Most of the workshops are located in the craft building. In 1999, carpet, stained glass and patchwork workshops were opened. Further, workshops for working with leather, textiles, porcelain and glass began their activities. In addition to those listed, the house of masters houses a furrier, art and design workshops, as well as a workshop for the manufacture of ancient costumes, dolls, hats.

Several dozen artists and artisans make various products, including custom-made ones. There is a huge number of interesting and unique products: stained glass windows, designer ceramics, carpets, costumes, hats, handmade dolls, paintings and much more. The courtyard has a special creative and cozy atmosphere. You can watch the work of the masters, ask questions, listen to fascinating stories.

In addition, various events are often held in the courtyard of the Guild, both in summer and in winter. These can be concerts, performances, weddings, gala dinners. Some of the events held have become traditional. So, for example, at the beginning of summer, the Days of St. Anthony's Courtyard and the Small Guild Fair are held here. During this period, the institution turns into the epicenter of various events - a fair, songs, dances, master classes. In the fall of November 2, All Souls Day is celebrated here. On this day, the souls of the living, the living, and those who will still live are waiting for a visit.

The founder of the pottery workshop in 1996 was glass artist Piret Veski, who graduated from the State Art Institute of the Estonian SSR, and ceramist Kaido Kask. Basically, in this workshop, various mugs, vases, jugs are made. There is a fairly large selection of ready-made products, as well as a service of manufacturing products to order. Orders are very different - from clay buttons to fireplaces and sculptures. Here you can take part in a master class on making ceramic products from baked clay - terracotta. One has only to consider that the finished product needs a long drying time, so it will be possible to pick it up only after a week.

In the leather workshop, you can order magnificent leather goods, photo albums, designer bindings, wallets, bags, belts, bracelets. There are also master classes on making leather jewelry, wallets, frames, medallions, key chains, bracelets.

In the carpet workshop, craftsmen make belts and skirts for folk costumes, weave woolen bedspreads, curtains, and carpets on looms. The work uses natural materials: linen, wool, cotton. As well as in other workshops, here you can take part in a master class: weaving on planks. The result of the master class will be a hand-made belt.

Elements of clothing are made in the patchwork workshop of the Guild of St. Anthony, home textiles: pillowcases, bedspreads, bags, raincoats. Various master classes are held here: a workshop for making neck jewelry using patchwork techniques, making patchwork dolls, panels, a workshop for making silk wallets in the style of medieval urban matrons.

In the art workshop you can buy paintings, take part in a master -classes or just get acquainted with the exhibition. You can also order a painting: a portrait, drawings on the walls, etc.

In the workshop for the manufacture of antique costumes, you can see costumes from different eras, made from natural materials. In addition, you can order a similar costume in your wardrobe.

In the doll workshop, which has been operating since 2005, there is a magical doll world where cats, giraffes, angels, smiling dolls and other interesting characters. Here you can not only admire the toys, but also buy the product you like. And, of course, you can make your own toy by participating in workshops on making toys and dolls using different techniques.

The hat workshop, which began its work in 2005, offers a wider selection of hats for men. women and children. Craftsmen will make hats for you from different materials: fur, leather, fabric. All headdresses are hand-made by a craftsman, jewelry for them is made of the same materials as the products themselves.

There are not so many furriers, or fur and leather craftsmen, in Estonia. Usually the knowledge and skills required for this type of craft are kept in great secret. However, here you can freely watch the work of the craftsmen and even take part in master classes on making fur brooches. There is also a workshop for the production of a fur keychain with a leather braid and a strap.

The stained glass atelier has been operating in Tartu since 1993. The studio moved to the Guild in autumn 1999, creating another workshop - stained glass. The workshop offers its services for the production of stained glass to order, wall clocks with a glass dial and other products. You can also sign up for a mini-stained glass workshop using the Tiffany technique, or take part in a glass making workshop where you can make a glass pendant, jewelry or medallion.

At a textile workshop that opened in 2001 , author's fabrics and textiles are made for decorating premises and sewing clothes. The pearl of the textile workshop are natural silk dresses made using the “silk painting” technique. By taking part in a silk painting workshop, you will independently make a silk scarf using this technique.

In the smithy, which opened quite recently - in the summer of 2010, you can get acquainted with the master's works or even buy them, you can ask questions to the master , you can purchase metal products to order. It also hosts training sessions and master classes.

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Topic: St. Anthony's courtyard (Antoniuse Gild) description and photos - Estonia: Tartu.