Horváth Attila – Solymos Ede szerk.: Cumania 2. Ethnographia (Bács-Kiskun Megyei Múzeumok Közleményei, Kecskemét, 1974)

J. Vorák: Kolompár Kálmánné kiskunhalasi cigányasszony kézimunkái

4. Drawing by Mrs. Kálmán Kolompár Thorma János Museum, F.

10429 entire outside of the „zsaba" in its full width. Then over the mostly dark blue heap of strings they spread and sew up coloured (very often red) stripes of fabric or cloth in a way that the play of colours of the loose bunches can freely produce its effect between the stripes. The string ends overlapping the length of the pocket and let freely hang form a thick fringing and call forth an animated and lively effect. Eventually, the entire surface of the „zsaba" is covered all over with possibly equal-sized, turqoiseblue buttons of glass or plastic. Among these rows of buttons of one colour often pearl-shell or metal buttons of quite contrasting colour and size are sewn for variety's sake. The , „zsaba"-s are thus spectaculary colourful. Our gipsy women who for a good price part with any of their garments with a light heart, adhere to these pockets. If they are willing to divest themselves of them at all, they sell them only when in great distress and for many 4. Kolompár Kálmánné rajza Thorma János Múzeum, F.10429. times of their value. Very often they do not do even the cutting and sewing of this most simple article themselves. However, its trimming, fringing, ornamenting with stripes, covering with buttons is done in all instances by their own hands and after their own fancy. In the „zsaba"-s they keep their money, their „luckpennies", their pipe and smoking appurtenances and the objects which they preserve as amulets. Thus e.g. the young women keep there the tiny, cheap celluloid dolls ensuring for them the birth of boy-children. Over and above these adornments, the most „zsaba"-s are then decked out to overflowing with pieces of chain of some non-ferrous metal, with.badges, medals, of sportclubs and of the Congregation of the Blessed Virgin Mary placed side by side. According to my informers, to one or other of these objects their owner attributes magic power, yet mostof them only dangle on the „zsaba" because by their sparkling they attract attention. 175