Nationwide Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage
Traditional Manufacturing of Darss Doors
On Fischland-Darss-Zingst, a peninsula of the Baltic Sea, the population has its roots in the nautical culture. This prompted a quaint construction and home décor, namely the so-called Darss doors. The craftsmanship encompasses carved house doors. The peculiarity of the doors is found in their motives. They draw on the abundance of ancient folklore depictions: illustrations such as trees of life, flower pots, suns, tendrils or anchors adorn the doors.
Facts & figures
- Crucial date: Throughout the year
- Inscription: 2018
- Domains: Traditional craftsmanship
- Where to find: Fischland-Darss-Zingst (Mecklenburg-West Pomerania)
Contact
Verein zur Foerderung der Heimatpflege und des Darss-Museums e. V.
Antje Hueckstaedt
darss-museum@ostseebad-prerow.de
Darss doors are of great recognition value for villages along the coastline in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. They have become a symbol of local identity. The craftsmanship enjoys cult status and great popularity, especially in the villages of Prerow, Wieck and Born.
Knowledge has successfully been passed on in the course of six generations. Exchanges with Scandinavia, the Mediterranean and Asia influenced the particular motives. Today, the craftsmanship of the Darss doors is mainly practiced by one small joiner’s workshop. Starting with full-scale sketches to find the optimal proportions of each door, the craft requires accuracy and precision.
