By Anita Palada, Croatian Journey Journal – https://croatiantraveljournal.com
In response to Greek mythology, crimson corals had been made when Perseus beheaded Medusa and threw her head into the ocean. Lined in blood from Medusa’s head, the seaweed on the backside of the ocean become stone and have become the commemorated crimson coral.
On the island of Zlarin, within the Adriatic Sea of Croatia, crimson corals have at all times had magical energy. Croatian journey author Anita Palada takes us to the underside of the ocean, with Coral Hunter Mirko Milosević, and to the workshop of Coral Jeweller Miro Bešker. Right here, he transforms the unprocessed aquatic gem stones to distinctive and acclaimed items of jewelry. Like a stone carver, Miro senses the vitality of every uncooked coral and liberates the jewel inside.
Right here’s the story of The Purple Corals of Zlarin:
Foto by Gojko Vukov Colić
Deep dive for coral harvesting
“In the present day, I’ll dive as much as 85 m deep, and if mandatory just a few meters deeper,” coral hunter Mirko Milosević thinks out loud whereas strolling in the direction of his boat. “Am I capable of harvest coral on the outdated spots, or ought to I’m going and discover the brand new ones? I feel I’ll go to the Kornati Archipelago and Zlarin right now, and go to Mažirina and Žirje one of many subsequent” – Mirko decides, lastly turning the bow in the direction of the island group of Kornati.
Foto by Gojko Vukov Colić
On the Southern facet of Kornati, the ocean is lifeless calm, resembling extra to grease than to water. There isn’t any one round besides just a few distant sailboats following the wind and a stray seagull cry: peace and silence. Mirko disregards the world that surrounds him; in his thoughts, he’s already on the backside of the ocean, among the many coral colonies.
He will get prepared for yet one more dive. He places on his diving swimsuit, secures the oxygen bottles on his again and the load belt round his waist. A splash after, and Mirko is already beneath the floor.
His skilled actions take him deeper by the second. 30 m – 40 m – 60 m – 80 m. And there he’s, descending, similar to a sluggish taking pictures star on an empty sky, after simply 5 minutes to a depth of 85 meters, within the pitch black, surrounded solely by a balloon of sunshine produced by his highly effective scuba diver lamp. He swims among the many corals, which span a number of hundred sq. meters. In the present day, he gained’t go deeper just like the final time at 118 m, when he broke his file.
Underwater Ecosystem
Foto by Mirela Kelava
Mirko appears to be like at his diving laptop; it follows him, measuring each inch of his dive and limiting his time on the ocean flooring. There are solely quarter-hour left for harvesting the corals. He’s cautious to the intense, as a result of ignoring the clock might be deadly at that depth. The thickest coral branches ought to be harvested rapidly and swiftly, earlier than the decompression dive, which can final two and half hours.
The coral soil is so lovely to see but so difficult to expertise.
Mirko is already acquainted with the underwater surroundings mendacity on the underside of the Adriatic Sea. The seabed is diversified, lovely, however considerably wild. Completely different organisms cowl it; corals, sponges, seaweed, and different creatures, locked within the everlasting battle for a greater place on the seabed.
Normally, corals develop on the south facet of the rocks, in holes, sustained by the ocean, which brings them vitamins and plankton within the crystal clear seawater of the Adriatic. Sponges and bivalve mollusks are the coral’s worst enemy, as a result of they attempt to overgrow them, suffocating the colony within the course of and stopping the dear organisms from creating.
The dive involves an finish, and there he’s! Mirko breaches the ocean’s floor carrying round 1,5 kg of treasured corrals in his internet.
Safety and sustainability
Foto by Anita Palada
“Corals are a protected species, and the Republic of Croatia strictly regulates fishing,” Mirko tells us; “and so it ought to be – to guard the underwater world and us divers who fish them. Diving for corals is probably the most troublesome and harmful type of diving. You know the way harmful it’s, after we coral divers can’t even purchase life insurance coverage from insurance coverage corporations”, explains Mirko, his face nonetheless frowned from the latest dive.
“Corals are animals, not vegetation, as many individuals suppose. They stay in communities. Their calcium carbonate skeleton settles and grows, rising coral branches from the bottom. They feed utilizing polyps that appear like flowers. Whereas the polyps are outdoors, coral fields are white, turning crimson solely upon their retreat.
I select the branches for jewelry based on the construction, measurement, and prescribed thickness, not lower than 6-7 mm, taking strict care of the species’ viability. Coral communities should stay various and productive to final sooner or later. It’s necessary if we sooner or later wish to present fascinating and acceptable items to jewellers to be superbly formed,” says Mirko, turning the boat in the direction of Zlarin, a small island close to Šibenik, often called the Coral Island since historic occasions.
The final coral jeweller of Zlarin
Foto by Gojko Vukov Colić
Mirko’s pal Miro Bešker processes, grinds, drills and polishes corals within the waterfront store, turning them into distinctive items of fascinating jewelry. Though Zlarin has lengthy been famed for its for corals, Miro Bešker is the final grasp on the island to make jewelry from uncooked corals. “Necklaces, bracelets, brooches, coral rings is his long-standing job and keenness,” says Mirko. “I like to speak to him about work and trade novelties.”
“Miro Bešker is at his work-desk as standard,” Mirko tells me. Prospects stroll into the shop, have a look at jewelry, purchase, exit, and Miro doesn’t even discover them. I can see he’s absorbed by the craftsmanship: touching corals, watching them, spinning them beneath his fingers whereas in all probability assessing the form to find out which piece of jewelry they’d finest swimsuit. Whereas Miro is in his artistic ecstasy, Kristin, his longtime collaborator, is at clients’ service.
Seeing us on the door, he briefly leaves his work and joins us for a small speak about corals and jewelry making.
From Coral to Jewel
Foto by Anita Palada
“Making jewelry is a fragile enterprise. It’s important to really feel the coral at every contact. After I make jewelry out of thicker components of coral, I’m in a whole Zen-Mind-set. These thick items are costly and appreciated. I’m hyper-focused, artistic and cautious in making it, as a result of I’ve to make it look as lovely as attainable.
Their worth deserves it. After I work with metals, gold or silver, I really feel one form of vitality and completely one other after I work with corals” Miro explains us, drawing us into his coral world.
His ambition is to create unseen, one-of-a-kind items of jewelry; a hoop, a broch, a necklace, continuously looking for new sources of inspiration. Each bit has its particular vitality, together with coral. “Generally, inspiration finds me and typically I’ve to attend for days,” he mentioned laughingly. “When my work doesn’t “circulate,” I depart all the pieces behind and anticipate a second of inspiration. Generally, after I’m indignant. If it’s metallic, I put it within the fireplace once more and soften it; if it’s coral, it goes for brand new tearing, grinding, and sharpening. If we aren’t in synergy at that second, it’s higher to half for a day or two than to wrestle. Is is identical with a girl,” Miro says, laughing once more.
Inventive inspiration shapes the jewel
Foto by Anita Palada
There are occasions when Miro indulges, working just for himself and his pleasures. “These are creative urges and moments when jewelry nearly creates itself, just like the jewel is already contained in the coral, and I simply take away the superfluous,” he provides jokingly. “No, they don’t at all times need to be massive items of jewelry. They are often miniatures. All of it depends upon my present temper and emotions. That’s how artists work; there’s no time or order in our world. When inspiration takes over, I indulge her. It’s all concerning the second. After I use it, I create a gorgeous piece of jewelry; if not, it stays trapped in me.
Whereas he’s working, he by no means thinks about whether or not that piece of jewelry could have industrial worth. It’s purely creating. “Coral leads me in the direction of what to make of it. I attempt to depart it as a lot as attainable in its authentic kind. Generally, I have already got a imaginative and prescient of what this piece will finally appear like within the drafting section, however not at all times. Generally it guides me, and it seems what seems to be. It’s usually the perfect.” Miro says, he has by no means had a dissatisfied buyer in his lengthy profession, which he regards as an amazing pleasure and recognition.
In the present day, many issues are routine, but it surely wasn’t at all times like that. At first, Miro was fearful of destroying one thing. He overcame that worry a very long time in the past, however right now he’s on the lookout for new challenges, proclaiming; “What’s an adrenaline-free job? ”
No chemistry. No fakes. Simply nature
Foto by Anita Palada
There’s an extended solution to go from uncooked coral to a pleasant piece of jewelry. Uncooked corals are sorted by class, deciding which piece of jewelry they are going to develop into. Every a part of the coral array has its function. Fragments of coral ought to be handled so that there’s as little waste as attainable, as a way to obtain as a lot worth as attainable. For Miro, this isn’t a lot of an issue. As quickly as he takes a chunk of uncooked coral in his palms, he is aware of the place it belongs and leaves the aesthetic kind to the present creative inspiration.
Miro dreamed about his goldsmith-coral enterprise from a younger age. He ready, little by little, spontaneously, not realizing the place it was taking him. He gave in, permitting his creative soul to wander. And it labored out! In the present day he maes a residing by doing what he loves most. “The bond between me and my jewelry is indissoluble. And once they depart the shop, a part of me is endlessly trapped in them.”
By forming these little coral twigs, “I really feel some particular vitality flowing by my fingers and filling me with pleasure. I can’t anticipate a brand new day to daybreak and maintain hanging out with these attention-grabbing sea beings,” Miro beams.
Sprucing is an important and long-lasting stage that lasts as much as a number of days. Plenty of work is critical to get a pleasant piece of shiny jewelry with pure colour. First, pure corals are cleaned, and branches are torn to items. Each bit is sanded, formed, drilled, and polished. “When the floor is polished to perfection, the excessive gloss is obtained. There’s no chemistry, no components. Coral colours are totally different, starting from 10 to fifteen shades, from gentle to darkish crimson,” Miro explains.
Craftsmanship handed down by generations
Miro Bešker got here to the island of Zlarin about 20 years in the past. He took over the job from his father-in-law, Vjekoslav Duhović, a wonderful coral artist and well-known jeweller from Cut up. “This can be a manufactory enterprise, and, sometimes, it’s a household enterprise. My job was handed to me by my father-in-law. He had religion that I might proceed his journey. I do my finest, and I consider that I didn’t and won’t disappoint him. The tangible result’s the consumers who come for jewelry from everywhere in the world.”
Miro is now the one grasp on the island. There have been many events, however they rapidly gave up once they realized how affected person and devoted one must be on this line of labor.
Corals for luck
Foto by Anita Palada
Kristin has been promoting the corals Miro makes for 20 years. She was born in Zlarin, and has been bejewelled by corals from start. “We, right here on the island, inherit corals from our grandmothers and moms. These worthwhile gems are handed down from technology to technology, and are a part of the household treasure. I’m so privileged to work with them.”
Younger women on Zlarin are eagerly awaiting the day to get coral jewelry. They usually obtain it as a present already at start, at marriage, or another necessary life occasion.
In response to the island’s custom, corals are gifted to family members, to deliver good luck in life.
I used to be glad that, by speaking to those fascinating folks, I touched the coral colonies on the backside of the ocean, and loved the divine glow of the crimson corals.
Writer: Anota Palada
Transcreation: Sanjin Grandić
About Anita Palada
Anita Palada is a journalist from Croatia, specialised in journey and tourism. She writes probably the most about her nation Croatia, particularly about totally different picturesque locations alongside the Adriatic coast, like Terra Madre. However not solely from Croatia! She additionally travels, explores, and talks with folks worldwide to convey thrilling tales about attention-grabbing locations, heritage accommodations, good eating places, conventional meals, and attractive wines, like this text about Croatian Wine. Learn extra on https://croatiantraveljournal.com
