Series: Stories from beehive front panels
Motif: by Matej Metlikovič
Type: Embroidered painting
Technique: Mixed embroidery
Year: 2013 - ongoing
Edition: Limited (30)
Size: Small
Dimension: 32 x 14 cm | 12.6 x 5.5 in
Number of stitches: over 170,000
Thread length: over 2 km | over 1.2 mi
Thread colours: 22
Development: over 50 person hours
Painted beehive front panels are autochthonous part of Slovene cultural heritage. First ones were done by Slovene peasants in the 18th century and used to carry solely religious motifs, however, in the 19th century, beekeepers turned toward secular depictions, too. Through the last decade, many Slovene painters revive this, almost forgotten art by recreating old motifs in their own modern styles, part of this being a series of beehive front panel embroideries, done by Ercigoj art in cooperation with numerous Slovene artists.
Biblical motifs are prevalent on traditional beehive front boards, and Matej Metlikovič, known for his ecclesiastical works of art, designed this colourful motif, incorporating symbols of faith into the colour background with flowing contours.