The Ethnology Department, as a part of the Bitola museum complex, sees its formation and development during the 50s of the XX c.
Since its formation, this department has shown particular interest in research, investigation, collecting, preservation and presentation of the rich cultural heritage, especially from the Bitola region.
National folk costumes
The folk costumes come from the villages which are part of the Brsjak ethnology entity, and are systematically grouped according to the ethnical region they belong to: the Upper villages (or so called Sub-Pelister villages), Bitola’s Field, Capari’s Field, Mariovo, Moshten villages, Demir Hisar-Zeleznec and Smilevo as an oasis of the Mijaks. The origin of the national dress is from the end of the XIX c. a period which allows us to follow the continuing development of the attire, when all the attributes and symbols are present. We are also able to follow their changing and eventual abandoning. The national folk costumes are divided into male and female attires, and a few samples of children’s costumes which are grouped according to their age and the function they served The museum’s collection of this kind of museum items consists of 1500 pieces and 40 complete sets.
Town clothing
These items come from the end of XIX century and beginning of XX century. They are divided into male and female attires. According to the influences prevalent at the time they were worn, they are grouped into the type “Ala Turka”, when the oriental influence was dominant, and the type “Ala Franga” with its dominant European elements. A special place is given to the items that are actual continuations of ancient-Balkan influences. The fund of these museum items counts 120.
Rugs
This collection consists of 10 examples of rugs that, due to their craftsmanship and decoration, are considered to be a distinctive feature of the furnishings of townhouses in Bitola at that time.
Fabrics and textile items
The fund of this kind of museum item is represented by the collection of 70 items used for both everyday and festive household occasions: blankets, curtains, covers, palls, rugs
Jewelry and adornment items
As a fund of 350 items with their extraordinary variety (village and town) they present a true reflection of the rich Macedonian culture and the culture of the ethnic entities, also including items for personal and clothes decoration.
The imported items
Porcelain and ceramic household, glass, mayolics, furniture and musical instruments are the content of this fund which counts more than 620 items. It is worth mentioning thatthis collection of items is mainly from the middle of the XIX c. and the beginning of the XX c., which, as imported items, were brought from many European cities and filled the interiors of the houses in Bitola.
Important exhibitions:
- National musical instruments 1976
- From Bitola’s museum collections 1989
- Popular jewelry and adornment in Macedonia 1985
- Imports in Bitola 1996
- From the Bitola museum’s vault 1998
- Woodcarving yesterday and today 2002
- The ethno culture of Bitola’s bazaar 2003
- Raditional attires of the ethnic entities 2003
- Exhibition “The essence, spirituality and cultural life in Bitola through the centuries” 2004
- Permanent exhibition The interior of the town ambient from the XIX c 2003