Oven craftsmanship is a vivid example of a folk craft that carries not only practical but also cultural value. It occupies a special place in Ukraine's traditional culture. Oven makers (known as pichnyky) were skilled artisans who specialized in building ovens, stoves, and fireplaces. They played a crucial role in rural life, as ovens were built to last for decades, providing warmth, cooking, and serving as a place to sleep or dry clothes. Ovens were even used for medicinal purposes. It was believed that the spirit of the home – the soul of the house – lived within the oven.
Today, there is a growing interest in Ukrainian oven craftsmanship. Ovens continue to be built in rural homes, summer cottages, and country houses, where people seek to recreate the traditional atmosphere of the Ukrainian hut. Modern artisans are reconstructing ovens in older homes, adapting the designs to accommodate new materials and technologies. Yet, they preserve the spirit and authenticity of this ancient craft, ensuring that it remains both functional and culturally significant.
The oven was, first and foremost, fire – a hearth. The hearth was considered a symbol of the family's stability, a gathering point, and a sacred space. As an inseparable attribute of the traditional Ukrainian home, the oven played not only an essential household role but also a magical one. It was believed that the fire in the oven should always remain burning, and it was the responsibility of women to ensure that the fire was maintained. Around the hearth, not only did people warm themselves and cook food, but they also performed various ritual actions related to the purifying function of fire.
It was believed that the oven was the place where the spirit of the home resided. As such, special rituals were observed during its construction. Oven makers often recited prayers, and small coins or other symbolic items were placed under the oven as protective charms for future generations. This practice imbued the oven with additional symbolic significance, making it a guardian of the home.
The most common motifs included geometric patterns and plant-based designs. Popular images were of flowers, leaves, and grapevines, which symbolized fertility and harmony with nature. The depiction of grapes on the oven was particularly meaningful, symbolizing prosperity and family happiness, and was also believed to contribute to a good harvest. In addition, other symbols could be found on the ovens, such as birds, the sun, and stars, reflecting people's beliefs about the universe and their connection to it.
The designs and ornaments were applied using a special technique, often with natural pigments, typically based on red and white clay, to create these symbolic and beautiful works of art.
- Gruba (Firebox) – This is the area where the fire is lit, usually located at the bottom of the oven. Here, firewood or other fuel is placed to heat the entire structure.
- Chimney (Smoke Flue) – A vertical channel that leads the smoke outside. It starts at the firebox and rises to the roof, ensuring the removal of smoke and preventing its accumulation inside the house.
- Prypichok – A horizontal surface in front of the firebox and under the chimney, extending into the oven's hearth (or cherin). This area is used for placing pots and performing other cooking tasks.
- Pid (Cherin) – The horizontal part above the firebox. It serves as a kitchen surface where food pots are placed. The pid gets heated, allowing cooking without direct contact with the flame.
- Dukhovka (Oven) – A compartment located next to the firebox, used for baking bread, pies, and other dishes. The oven retains heat longer than the pid, making it ideal for baking.
- Pil (Lizhanka) – A horizontal area on the upper tier of the oven, designed for sleeping or resting. The lizhanka is particularly warm because heat rises from the firebox.
- Piddulvalo, Popilnyk, Zolynyk – An opening beneath the firebox that allows air to flow through, enhancing the draft during combustion.
- Prizba – A small shelf near the oven, often used for storing household items or small pots.
- Zaslinka (Shiber) – An air and smoke flow regulator, typically located in the chimney. It allows for the regulation of the oven's draft, which is important for maintaining the proper temperature.
The Trypillian oven is one of the key elements of the material culture of the Trypillian civilization, which existed in the territory of modern Ukraine (specifically, in Central Ukraine, Podillia, and the basins of the Dniester and Southern Bug rivers) around 5400–2750 BCE.
The Trypillian oven played an important role in everyday life and was a significant part of the living space. The Trypillians created ovens to heat their homes, cook food, and also for firing clay pottery.
The Trypillian oven was the center of the home and daily life, a symbol of family warmth. It provided the necessary conditions for survival and enhanced the comfort of living. Additionally, ovens held sacred significance, as fire symbolized life and the energy of the family. Therefore, the Trypillians took great care of their ovens, and the process of building them could include ritual elements.
Materials Used
The primary material for the oven was clay, which was easily molded and provided thermal resistance. To strengthen the structure and prevent cracking, additives such as straw, grass, or small stones were mixed with the clay.
Often, a special coating made from clay and ash was applied to the outer layer to provide additional protection from thermal cracks.
Shape and Placement
Ovens could have various shapes depending on their specific purpose and the characteristics of the house. Some had a rounded base, which facilitated better heat circulation.
Typically, the oven was placed in a corner or near a wall, where it was protected from drafts and retained heat more efficiently. This also provided convenient access to the oven from different parts of the room.
Models of Trypillian houses found during excavations indicate that the houses were decorated both on the outside and inside. The Trypillians painted their homes aesthetically and more colorfully. For the Trypillians, art was all-encompassing, decorative, and designed for larger spaces and longer distances of perception. Inside the house, the eye was drawn to the Trypillian oven with its sleeping platform (lizhanka), admired the painted chimney, and the decorated ceramics.
Trypillian ovens were often adorned with ornaments or symbols that could have protective meanings. The decorations were applied to both the outer and inner surfaces of the oven.
Decorative Elements
The decor could include geometric patterns, spirals, and zigzags, which were common elements of Trypillian symbolism.
Constructive Elements
- Firebox (Topka): The central part of the oven where the fire was lit. The firebox could be large, with separate openings for adding fuel, which allowed for controlling the intensity of heating.
- Chimney (Dymokhid): Some oven designs included a smoke ventilation system consisting of openings or channels in the walls. This helped reduce smoke buildup inside the house, although most ovens did not have a fully developed chimney system.
- Firing Chambers: Special compartments or chambers for firing ceramics could be created in the lower part of the oven. This allowed for high temperatures necessary for producing strong pottery.
Construction Technology
The oven was built directly on-site, starting with a wooden or twig framework, which was then coated with clay. After drying, the framework was fired, leaving a durable clay structure.
Usually, a layer-by-layer construction method was used, which prevented cracking and contributed to the durability of the oven.
Photo taken from free Internet resources
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