Debrecen4U April 24, 2025

Handicraft and its history in Debrecen

For centuries Debrecen was one of the most important intellectual, cultural and economic centres of the Great Plain. The image of a trading town, built on craftsmanship to the core, emerges from the past, which owes its leading role to, among other things, the social orientation, with its wide range of crafts, which has made it an economically dominant community for centuries. 

Debrecen’s handcraft, known in European countries since the Middle Ages, showcased the city’s skilled craftsmen, whose descendants continue to work today.

Let us take a look at some of the special Debrecen handcraft gems!

• We must first of all mention the embroidery craft, which is simply called “Hungarian method” and includes leatherwork, the parallel flourishing craft of strap making, as well as the specialised branch of flask craft, whose internationally recognised creations have deservedly enhanced the reputation of Debrecen.

• The canteen with the horsehide is also a curiosity in the cultural history of the city. The wooden drinking vessel was made by woodworking craftsmen, mainly turners, but the leather covering was the work of the strap makers.

• Although not closely related to leatherworking, the comb craft  was a craft that was still related in terms of its raw material. Famous comb makers from Debrecen also enhanced the reputation of the town of Debrecen with their work.

• A Debrecen handicraft cornerstone, leatherwork is complemented by pottery, equally vital in households from the outset. While various crafts engaged family members, with women weaving and men carving, pottery has always remained a distinct craft throughout history.

• A side industry related to pottery was the pipe-making trade, which was licensed by the town council in 1703 for potter widows and impoverished potters. The craft initially a sideline soon produced a quantity and quality of European renown, to the extent that in the first half of the 19th century 10 million pipes were made annually and exported by our craftsmen to almost all European countries.

• Knifemaking also appears as an auxiliary activity, and was significantly influenced by the Habanese, an Anabaptist community from Switzerland, who settled in Moravia and Transylvania, enriching the local craft industry with their talents. As a result of their settlement in Debrecen, and then as a result of the wider spread of the craft, our town can claim the birth and nationwide spread of the paired knife with a pommel.

• A similar curiosity in the history of the city is the famous Debrecen grave mark carving.  Debrecen wood carving masters wanted to show themselves in a unique form in this area, and the slowly developing and increasingly popular Debrecen grave mark carving became one of the city’s most characteristic features, which as a form of commemorative carving spread from the 17th century, but was only massively used in the 18th century.

• The Reformation significantly impacted bookbinding in Debrecen, transforming religious life and developing book printing. The College and printing house, founded in 1538 and 1561 respectively, became the main prides of the town, making bookbinding and printing a central industry.

• Among the specialties of Debrecen we must mention the famous and renowned “wooden stick” gingerbread. Debrecen stands out among the cities of the lowlands in this respect, and we can even say that it is the largest centre of the craft.It is not by chance that we can find a unique gem in this area, as the town was famous for its milling and baking industry for a long time.

• We must mention the jewellery industry of Debrecen, the flourishing commercial and economic centre of the 17th century, which reached its peak in this century and made the town the most outstanding point of the 16th century Renaissance art style in Eastern Hungary, the intellectual content of which has been passed on to the jewellery masters of today.

• ​​Last but not least, we must mention the Debrecen costume and its elements, the Hungarian freeze coats, the peculiarities of the women’s small coat pattern and last but not least the beaded headdresses, considered the main jewel of young girls. These pieces are all gems from the world of the old days.

Debrecen’s people are proud of its centuries-old craft traditions, preserving their skills and knowledge for future generations. 

If you’re interested in getting your hands dirty, many artisans offer workshops or special events where you can learn the crafts yourself to dive deeper into Hungarian culture, for example at the Debrecen Tannery House.

Don’t forget to explore the local markets, they’re filled with handmade treasures that you won’t find in typical tourist souvenirs. Picking up something made in Debrecen means you’re supporting local artists and having a piece of the city’s spirit with you.

Source:ciha.hu/regmult-idok/ |Photo credit:dehir.hu