The Folk Art of Slovenian Hive Fronts by Richard Jones

The Folk Art of Slovenian Hive Fronts by Richard JonesIllustrated front boards on beehives are an essential part of Slovenian beekeeping as well as being an intricate part of the general folklore and culture of the rural communities in that country. The pride and almost affection there is for apiculture culminates in the care and attention bestowed upon the design and detail of the pictures on the fronts. They are the visual cultural equivalent of folk songs, poetry and fairy tales. Over six hundred

Illustrated front boards on beehives are an essential part of Slovenian beekeeping as well as being an intricate part of the general folklore and culture of the rural communities in that country. The pride and almost affection there is for apiculture culminates in the care and attention bestowed upon the design and detail of the pictures on the fronts. They are the visual cultural equivalent of folk songs, poetry and fairy tales.

Over six hundred designs have been recognised. The Eva Crane Historical Collection has fifty four such boards from those reproduced by the Museum of Apiculture in Radovlijica. The collection is illustrated here with explanations. The art form itself and the style of beekeeping management which enabled it to develop are briefly outlined. Each front board measures 37 cm x 16 cm and the hive entrance is an approximately 5mm high, 75mm wide notch cut into the bottom of each board.

I am deeply grateful to Franc Sivic, a former Vice President of the Slovenian Beekeepers· Association, for the excellent photographs showing traditional and new bee houses and other aspects of modern beekeeping in Slovenia. Furthermore, I am indebted to him for his general help and encouragement but especially for his checking of my interpretation of the hive fronts to ensure that I did not miss some subtle point of Slovene folklore.

My thanks to Joanne Hawker for her creative design for the book and for her patience in coping with my continual additions. Also to Sarah Jones for many perceptive suggestions as well as proof reading the text.

Of course, it is necessary yet again, to recognise the foresight and perspicacity of Dr Eva Crane in collecting the hive fronts in the first place and, as with all the other items in the Historical Collection, creating not a dead museum but a stimulus for record keeping and further research.

– Richard Jones (Director of IBRA 1996 - 2010) October 2013.