Halfway between Vares and Olovo is located village Ocevija, today the only place in Europe where iron is melted and processed in a medieval, pre-industrial way. Before, 60 people was earning for life while working as blacksmiths, and the tradition is preserved by only three blacksmiths, and their forges are declared as national monuments.
“I am doing this from an early age. I spent my life in a forge. This is tradition that is passed from generation to generation,” said blacksmith Vijackic, adding that all men in this family were dealing with this craft.
There were forges working in the nearby villages as well, but they did not survive because of the water, which is essential for this craft.
“Our water never got frozen in the winter times. That is the main reason why we survived. We use the system that is used for more than 500 years. We have a device that is moved by the water power. A key tool is wedge hammer, which weighs about 50 kg, which forms molten iron object. There are plenty blacksmiths in Kresevo, but there is no one who uses the water like me,” said Vijackic.
Alojzija, who is going to the market every Wednesday, says that casseroles, pans, horseshoes for horses, harrows and spikes for pulling logs are products that still can be sold, and he claims that their quality is unique on the market. He praised that his sac (iron cauldron used for preparing food) is used in Australia, America.
“Foreigners are mostly purchasing sac and casseroles. I’ve sent them more than once. They pay the shipping, I wrap them and send them. It is not expensive to them to give 200 or 300 BAM for a sac. They are happy, I am happy,” he said.
He is happy that his son wants to deal with this craft, from which, according to him, he can make a solid living these days.
“While working in the blacksmith shop, after returning to the village, I have built a house. I also made shed and a garage, and bought myself a car. All in a fair way. With these ten fingers. It is hard. I work for 14, 15 hours a day, 6 days a week. I’ll work as long as my health serves me. We must not allow this tradition that our ancestors left us, to die,” he concluded.
(Source: E. Rizvanbegovic/Faktor.ba)
