Agave

Agave of Hvar is a true queen of island's rocks. It blooms only once in its centennial life-span and then it withers and dies. Right at that moment Hvar artist Ivica Tomičić- Tajnikov takes the subterranean part of the plant and works on it in a special way and as he tries to preserve the natural form of the root each work becomes a unique piece. Thus peculiar bowls, vases, pots are created -- a unique souvenir of Hvar. However, the most beautiful part of the story of agave is the one telling of its filaments. Roughly a hundred years ago our sea- men brought back from Tenerife a sample of lace made of agave. In the Benedictine nunnery one of the nuns studied technique of its making for a long time. The result of this long observation was the laces that were prettier and grander than those of Canaries. They became unique in the world. When working, the nuns respect the "regulation" of not weaving lace when Bura -- the north wind- is blowing since the wind stretches and breaks tender agave filaments. The Benedictines of Hvar weave filaments during Jugo -- the south wind- , a moist wind of artistic inspiration. There are no drafts, each sketch is in nun's imagination and it develops as being made. Patterns are mostly full of sun, flowery, cheerful and luxurious. Laces are neither washed nor ironed, and are kept under glass.