The Caldarari Roma of Brateiu: art that overcomes prejudices

The Craft Tradition of the Roma in Brateiu

Just a few kilometers from Mediaș, on the road leading to Sighișoara, in a village that measures only a few hundred souls, the Roma manage to carry on a craft tradition that is several hundred years old.

If you pass through Brateiu, you cannot miss the potters' stalls at the edge of the road, in the shade of the walnut trees, displaying:

• cauldrons for *țuică*
• coffee pots
• rustic pans

The Role of Tourists

The main buyers are tourists, as many choose to decorate their homes in a traditional way with such decorative items.

Importance of Craft

For the Roma of Brateiu, this craft is more important than anything else. Many process the items in workshops passed down from their ancestors, using the same old tools, while the elders teach the young the secrets of this art.