The tradition of Kosiv painted ceramics began in the 18th century and reached its peak in the mid-19th century. These ceramics, in particular the dishes, ceremonial items, toys, and tiles, are an integral part of the intangible cultural heritage of the Hutsuls, an ethnographic group based in the Ukrainian Carpathians.
Currently, the traditions are widespread in the villages of Kosiv and nearby: Pistyn, Verbovets, Stary Kosiv, and Kutiv. This pottery has been passed down through generations. The role of the main center of folk pottery was played by the village Pistyn in the XVIII century. Additionally, the tradition was also cultivated in the villages of Kosiv (Monastyrske, Moskalivka, Stary Kosiv, Smodne, Verbovets), Kugi, and Stary Kugi.
These villages had their own ceramic schools, their own style, and their own traditions. A closer look at the plots of the Pistyn craftsmen will reveal more primitive plots. Their favorite ornamental motif appears to be triangles and combinations of them that cover the walls of their vessels and the edges of their bowls.
It has been pointed out that the center of pottery moved to Kosiv in the XIX century. This helped form the recognizable features of the Kosiv pottery: A color palette of yellow, green, and brown which is associated with earthy and natural elements such as the sun, mountains, and land; A reflection on Hutsul life and beliefs, and the ways of their traditional way of life; Images of saints, churches and bell towers, which are taken from the bible.
Manufacturing has developed in two directions since the mid-19th century: small-scale shops and private creative studios. Each product is man-made, resulting in a unique design. It is made from local gray clay, watered with white clay that has a creamy texture; when dried, the resulting graphical contour drawing is done with a metal stick.
Kosiv ceramics are characterized by their figurative design and depiction of the Hutsul people. A plot motif represents the history, life, folklore, beliefs, and customs, as well as the flora and fauna surrounding the Hutsuls. The tricolor scheme, which includes yellow, green, and brown colors are associated with the perception of nature, which is yellow for the sun, green for the Carpathian mountains, and brown for the earth. The masters often add blue to the tricolor scheme. They are a reflection of the Hutsul people, their culture, and their beliefs.
In everyday life, ceramics are used as pots for cooking and milking, like mugs, flasks, barrels for liquids, and for baking Easter cakes. A wide range of products are also available: makitras for grinding poppy, bowls, jars, and mugs.
Today, the tradition has evolved in two directions: small shop production and private creative workshops. The masterwork is produced in small family workshops and personal craft workshops, and the practice is an affiliation with a community and a mark of identity.
In the Kosiv region, the annual Ludyne Festival and Painted Jug Festival bring together a huge number of ceramic lovers. By virtue of its direct relationship with generations of masters and bearers of the tradition, the Department of Art Ceramics at Kosiv College plays a special role in the preservation of the traditional technological cycle of production.