Collections of the Idrija Municipal Museum
More than museum 23,000 items are arranged in 11 collections. We’ve picked the largest, the smallest, the oldest and the most interesting ones for you. We invite you to find them in our exhibitions!
More than museum 23,000 items are arranged in 11 collections. We’ve picked the largest, the smallest, the oldest and the most interesting ones for you. We invite you to find them in our exhibitions!
The collection includes 29 lime-wood carved face masks of Cerkno runners (laufarji) and one made of veal skin. “Laufarija” in Cerkno was renewed in 1956 after a break of a few decades. Then, 11 new face masks – larfas were made, now included in the collection. The others were gradually been made until 1997, as the runners (laufarji) added new characters to their group. The larfas were purchased in 1989 and included in the Ethnological museum collection. In 2014, a separate collection of carnival face masks was formed. It includes all 26 larfas of the Cerkno “laufarija” and they are presented in the permanent exhibition called “It’s the Carnival’s Fault!”: The story about the Cerkno runners (laufarji). The other four larfas are the duplicates that we ordered for educational and promotional purposes.
The larfas belongs to the main character in the Cerkno “laufarija”. Despite a long pointed nose and two wild boar’s fangs sticking out of its mouth corners, it has a nice appearance.
There are three larfas of this character, therefore there are three Thread Men (Ta terjast) in the “laufarji” family. Their masks are the most scary of them all, with their big nose, glaring eyes and protruding jaw with big white teeth sticking out.
The Old Man (Ta star) is a proud master of the runners’ family and the only runner who is allowed to talk. His larfa shows a nice, lively old man’s face.
The Old Woman (Ta stara) is in pair with the Old Man. Her larfa shows the tired face of a worried, but serene old woman, resigned to her fate. She has only one tooth in her mouth, sticking out of her jaw.