The words scoarta, razboiul, cerga, laicerul, satranca, and mitele – many of which are hardly known today – all refer to the traditional Moldovan rug. Among its variations is the “bumbi” rug – rarer, with curative effects and a very complicated weaving technique.
Appearing in the 18th and 19th centuries, it quickly disappeared but was revived by the skilled craftswoman Tatiana Popa. Thanks to her, it has now captured the hearts of craftsmanship admirers around the world. These rugs are currently made and displayed at the Casa parinteasca Museum in Palanca, Calarasi.
The Palanca Museum – A “Parents House” for All
Tatiana Popa’s parents were true farmers. In their home, there was no purchased furniture – everything was carved by her father, while her mother, the village seamstress, made the rugs, towels, and clothing. However, as happened to thousands of households, her parents were sent to Siberia. Tatiana reclaimed their home in the ’90s.
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She gathered the furniture and other household items from the village that her parents had lovingly crafted and turned the “Parents House” into a museum, now open to the world. Here, Tatiana revived the weaving technique of the bumbi rug, whose origins remain unclear. Researchers from across the Prut River couldn’t find such rugs in Romania, but the Ethnography and History Museum of Moldova exhibits two bumbi rugs from Falesti, dating back to the 19th century. Researchers are now inclined to say, “The bumbi rug was invented in Moldova!”
Reviving an Ancient Tradition
“The technique is similar to an old traditional embroidery element still used today in making ii (traditional blouses). It was more difficult to understand how the warp was made, but I figured it out. I improved both the weaving technique and the work method, introducing a small needle to ease the work for women, whose fingers used to bleed from the warp threads…” explains the craftswoman.
The Bumbi Rug – Between Traditional Values and a Source of Income
Thanks to the craftswoman from Palanca, the fame of the bumbi rug has spread far beyond Moldova. Rugs woven by Tatiana Popa or women she has trained are found in homes in Canada, Israel, France, and Italy.
Tatiana Popa believes that weaving a bumbi rug can be a good source of income. As a result, she has trained women from various areas, from Ceadar-Lunga to Telenesti. The courses were part of summer schools for women to learn business skills. Many of these women have become expert craftswomen and now earn money from it. “We are open to anyone who wants to learn. The more people work, and the more workshops open, the quicker the employment problem will be solved. This craft can bring income and help women not yet employed,” says the craftswoman.
Foreigners also come to learn the secrets of this technique. German designer Isabelle de Hillerin repeatedly visited Palanca to learn from Tatiana Popa how to work a bumbi rug. She then introduced this technique into her spring-summer 2013 collection, presented on the Berlin runway.
A Bumbi Rug – Health Underfoot
The name “bumbi rug” comes from the weaving technique. Its knot resembles a button or a “bumb,” as it is commonly called. With each knot slightly raised, the bumbi rug has a unique therapeutic effect, making it beneficial to walk on barefoot or lie on.
However, unlike the richly colored “scoarta” rugs, which feature large flowers in bright colors, the bumbi rug hasn’t gained much popularity and was forgotten by Moldova’s housewives.
“The primary purpose of the bumbi rug is therapeutic. It’s not a decorative item like other Moldovan rugs, such as scoarta or paretar. It is placed on the floor for foot therapy, and a bumbi rug used as a bedspread is a true treasure. Therefore, regardless of decoration trends, this rug will always look good in a home,” assures the craftswoman from Palanca.
Tatiana Popa hopes that the world will return to true values, appreciating handmade objects because they last over time and can be passed down through generations. “People have forgotten why Moldovans give gifts during holidays, what the tradition of giving towels, rugs, and other handmade items meant. Their purpose was not only practical but also to serve as a reminder. A unique handmade item carries the memory of the person who made or gave it. Today, however, people give expensive but valueless objects – Chinese-made items that aren’t even useful around the house. It’s a shame… People need to understand the difference and appreciate valuable objects,” says the craftswoman.
At the Casa parinteasca Museum in Palanca, Calarasi, visitors can see rugs over 100 years old made by Tatiana Popa’s mother and furniture carved by her father. It is truly a “parent house” for everyone, as anyone who steps inside feels as if they’ve come home to their parents or grandparents.