Northeastern Gemer is known for its rich history of bobbin lace production and use. Due to the high quality of its products, lace-making in the villages of the Slaná River valley—Rejdová, Vyšná Slaná, Vlachovo, Gočovo, Nižná Slaná, and Gemerská Poloma—has been one of the most significant Slovak traditions since the 17th and 18th centuries.
Lace from Gemer is distinguished by its rich variety of technical elements as it incorporates all types of stitches commonly found in Slovakia, as well as some unique ones. The lace is made from flax, hemp, and cotton threads. Due to its framing, it looks like a compact piece with a strip or large rounded edges. The motifs are predominantly plant-based, featuring stylised flowers, chalices, and wreaths. In the past, most lace was white, though occasionally a green, blue, or black “river” (oblique grid) appeared. Such lace was used for birthing, funeral cloths, church, as well as wraparound cloths.
Since the early 20th century, Gemer lace makers have specialised primarily in bobbin lace-making for caps. This tradition lasted the longest in Rejdová, Vlachovo, Gočovo, and Nižná Slaná. Cap lace retains the artistic characteristics of traditional Gemer lace. While the branched plant motifs have been simplified, the original compositional principles have been preserved. The production process is quite complex, requiring the lace maker to work with varying numbers of threads, different patterns, and multiple colours. The lace is created without pre-drawing; only the basic lines of the lace shape are marked.
Nowadays, members of the Bobbin Lace Club at the Gemer Education Centre in Rožňava strive to revive lace production by studying, redrawing, and recreating old patterns while adapting them to contemporary aesthetics. Their work primarily serves the needs of folklore ensembles and groups but also individuals—for instance, in wedding ceremonies, where caps symbolise the regional identity of the bride. A significant contribution to preserving and continuing the lace-making tradition in Gemer is its transition into the realm of visual and applied textile arts.
