Guba making

A guba is a woollen hood with a tufted pile. Originally, woven fabrics with a pile were used as horse and wagon covers and to make long coats for shepherds. The guba is characterised by the insertion of wool strands into the wool’s warp, always in 3-4 wefts, under pairs of warp threads. After weaving, the guba is folded from the warp and the ends of the product are tied with a knot on both sides. The guba must then be washed so that it does not bind together. The washing begins with gently brushing the fabric, which is hung on a firm backing. Then, the fabric is placed down on the pile in a roller (a special hydrotechnical device) and finally brushed with a special guba comb. Hand-processed sheep’s wool, preferably wool from the Wallachian sheep, which is also bred in Klenovec, is used to make the gubas.
The first mention of a coarse pile cap or a garment made of pile fabric in the territory of the Hungarian kingdom dates back to 1387. The use of the guba and the transmission of knowledge and skills of guba production have a tradition in Slovakia that goes back several centuries, with guba makers penetrating the territory of present-day Slovakia during the Wallachian colonisation from the Balkans from the 14th century onwards. In addition to Gemer, guba makers in Šariš, Zemplín and Abov also produced gubas by hand, and domestic production of gubas was widespread in the Zemplín and Uža County.
After the decline of guba production at the beginning of the 20th century, local traditions were taken up by the production of gubas organised by the Centre for Folk Art Production. The ÚĽUV resumed production in 1958, and its activities led to the introduction of guba making to the producers in Klenovec.
Guba making is part of the cultural and local identity of the Klenovec community. The inhabitants of the village, actively allied in the association RODON Klenovec, in cooperation with the Gemer-Malohont Cultural Centre in Rimavská Sobota – a cultural institution of the Banská Bystrica Self-Governing Region – organise creative workshops and a craft camp for children and young people. At the same time, they try to connect the village’s inhabitants with its municipality, which has established and operates the Museum of the Tannery and Guba making. Ján Fotta, the only guba maker in Slovakia and holder of the title of Master of Folk-Art Production, is also part of the local community.