Transylvanian furniture painting is known well beyond its place of origin.In all transylvanian regions furniture used to be painted. This tradition lasted well into the 20th century. The manufactured items were also exported in the neighboring countries and regions, especially to Valahia, the southern province of Romania.

I made my aquitanceship with this wonderfull artisanry in 1984 when i had the honour and pleasure to accompany a furniture painting exhibition by Sibiu/Hermannstadt's Brukenthal Museum with enlarged graphics of the most beautifull patterns.

Dr. Irmgard Sedler, beeing the exhibition's director, gave me alot of usefull information.

The love for flowers and their stylized representation in folk art doesn't belong only to the transylvanian saxons, but their specific interpretation displays an extraordinary diversity. Thus, countless variations of design and colour developed over the centuries, which can be exactly assigned to their respective place and time of creation by their specific style. This way an impressive treasure of shape and colour has been created between the 15th and 20th century. Some original pieces can still be found in private ownership or the collections of museums.

Unfortunately there are very few artists possesing the required craftsmanship skills, interested in practically preserving the cultural heritage and further developing this beautifull tradition. It is a pitty, because a culture only dies when it is left to die! Since furniture painting is traditional folk art it is supposed to be kept alive and should not be forced to retreat exclusively into the seclusion of museal collections.

Whoever wants to get involved with this particular field of art should best revive the old designs, although not to their detriment with random alterations of style, the purpose should be to preserve the exquisite beauty of this century old tradition. When done the righy way nothing speaks against continued representation.

I want to emphasize this especially to my compatriots from the "Verband der Siebenbürger Sachsen", the many Heimatortgemeinschaften in Germany, Austria, U.S.A., Canada, and especially the artists in Romania.

What you see on the next pages is the result of many years of labour and collecting activity in Sibiu/Hermannstadt and its surrounding regions.

Enjoy "Flowers of five centuries"!