Tinsmithing is an exceptional form of manufacturing as well as an artistic phenomenon with a unique place in the history of global material culture. Although wire as an intermediate product was used worldwide by craftsmen in many manufacturing industries, Slovak tinsmiths approached the processing of the wire in an original way and shifted it into a utility product. They developed specific, seemingly primitive, but sophisticated and effective methods of work, undemanding in regards to the required working conditions, tools and equipment. The wire was shaped and tied by hand, even when there was more developed factory production with the use of several types of pincers; they did not use soldered or welded joints. This unique technology enabled them to practice their craft anywhere and under any conditions, and these versatile manufacturing techniques extended almost limitlessly the possibilities of the use of metal fibres. The tinsmiths were able to produce almost anything and they effortlessly adapted to the market and customer requirements.
Depending on the country in which the Slovak tinsmiths worked, they produced an incredibly wide range of goods from kitchen utensils through equipment for winegrowers, farmers, florists, beekeepers and fishermen, accessories for flats, restaurants, shops and manufacturing plants all the way up to toys for children and garden furniture. Products produced by tinsmiths became particularly popular trading items in the second half of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century. They represented a new type of everyday item. They were cheap, practical, frequently also multi-purpose and they created a light, airy and decorative impression. Wire also allowed numerous decorative elements to be used, which were not only based on archaic forms, but also on Slovak ornamentation and the hand-made production allowed the imprint of individuality and a naive charm. Today, the products created by tinsmith are among the most typical Slovak craft and artistic items and they inspire contemporary art, crafts and design based on national elements.
The work on the postage stamp comes from the collections of the Považské Museum in Žilina and was created by artistic tinsmith Peter Hlavatovič according to older patterns.

Katarína Hallonová