The shepherd’s axe – “ciupaga” /tsiu-pa-ga/

Visual or audio material of objects, buildings and constructions, processes

Description accompanying the visual/audio material

• Chronology



1910

• Country



POLAND

• Heritage Theme



Transhumance routes

• Location



Poland, village Kościelisko, (the Podhale region).

• History



The object comes from the collection of the Tatra Museum in Zakopane (catalogue no E/4007/MT). The axe was made in the village Kościelisko. It was bought by the museum in 1929 from the Kuźmiów family from the village Nowe Bystre.

• Description of function, materials, style, shape



The axe consists of a steel hatchet and a wooden handle. The hatchet has a vertical edge with a characteristic tongue at one side of the axe. The central surface of the hatchet is decorated with a rosette with the use of stamps. The axe has also a simple handle with an edge which is strengthened with thimble.
The shepherd’s axe (“ciupaga” - /tsiu-pa-ga/) was a basic tool and attribute of shepherds from the Podhale region. It was also used by brigands. It served as a walking stick, protection against predators, to cut twigs and to fight. The craftsmen usually gave it a very decorative form.
• Dimensions
Length of the hatchet: 14 cm, width of the hatchet: 3,5 cm; length of the handle: 74 cm, width of the handle: 6,5 cm-10,5 cm
 

• Bibliography



W. Bratkowska, catalogue card from the collection of the Tatra Museum in Zakopane (catalogue no E/4007/MT), 5th May 1955

• Keywords



Pastoral life, pastoral tools, pastoral migrations