Filigree, copper and the crafts of the Čaršija: the back story

About Filigree, copper and the crafts of the Čaršija: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Skopje Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

The Old Bazaar has been a place of craftsmen for centuries, and some trades survive: goldsmiths and filigree makers on Kujundžiska, tinsmiths and copper workers, tailors and sweet makers.

Filigree

Filigree jewellery is made from fine silver or gold wire twisted and soldered into lace-like patterns. The craft has a long tradition in the Old Bazaar, and Kujundžiska, the goldsmiths’ street, is lined with jewellers; Argjira is one of the best-known filigree workshops.

Ohrid pearls

Ohrid pearls are not real pearls but beads coated in a lacquer made, by a secret family recipe, from the scales of a small fish of Lake Ohrid. They are sold in Ohrid and in Skopje’s shops; buy from established workshops.

Filigree is silver wire spun as fine as thread.

Textiles and copper

Look for embroidered textiles with traditional motifs, woollen rugs, copper coffee pots and trays, and carved wooden objects.

From the market

Edible souvenirs are some of the best: a jar of home-made ajvar, wine from Tikveš, rakija, local honey, Turkish delight and baklava from the bazaar’s sweet shops. Bit Pazar and the Green Market are full of seasonal produce.

Our advice: buy filigree from a workshop where you can see the work being done, pick up ajvar and wine to take home (check your airline’s rules for liquids), and browse Bit Pazar for spices and dried peppers.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Filigree, copper and the crafts of the Čaršija: the back story before you go.