Considerations on the creative activity of leather and fur craftsmen of the south Republic of Moldova

The purpose of the present study is to identify folk craftsmen in the localities of the south Republic of Moldova who, through their activity, preserve and promote the traditions of leather and fur processing. The elucidation of the proposed aspects was carried out on the basis of the bibliographic study of ethnographic sources, informative and illustrative materials collected at festivals, fairs, and exhibitions of traditional crafts, as well as field documentation. Pieces of clothing, accessories, harness articles, part of the material culture of Bessarabian Romanians, were examined. The work highlights the need to valorize and promote the cultural heritage of the country, to affirm the cultural identity at the local and regional level.