Uniform of the Boka Naval Society


a) Short coat - koret made of fine black cloth with violet silk cuffs. Coat buttons up with 12 small buttons inlaid with small corals. The lining is linen and violet silk. b) Waistcoat - jecerma made of violet velvet, edged with golden braids with black thread. On the front of the waistcoat five double loops (galloons) made of gold braids. On the outer edges of the loops fastened five larger tassels with gold and black thread. c) Trousers - gace, wide, with trouser legs reaching to knees, made of shiny black bombazine. Trouser hems decorated with gold braid with black thread. d) Belt - pas, long belt made of violet silk with hem tassels. e) Cap - ceverica, small and rounded, made of black silk satin, inlaid with black twill. Red velvet applique in the centre of which the symbol of a fish bladder is embroidered in gold thread. f) Tobacco pouch made of red velvet, elongated in shape. A purse for carrying thalers is fixed to the pouch. g) A small purse shaped as a blazon made of violet velvet with decorative pattern of gold threads at edges. On the front side a shield crowned with the historical Croatian coat of arms, on the back of the purse a laurel-wreath with the initials O. M. h) Bow tie, of a more recent make. i) Stockings black, of more recent make. j) Belt - bensilah, cemer with two holes for carrying weapons. The uniform lacks only a plastron and shoes. The uniform had belonged to the Boroje family from Kotor. It was bought in 1993 from Mrs Mira Kosovic-Radimir from Split. The Boka Naval Society has a long historical tradition. It was founded in the middle of the 15th century in Kotor as a guild. That brotherhood is believed to be the oldest naval society in Europe. It was dissolved during the time of French rule (1811). The Austrian authorities had granted the wish of the natives of the Bay of Kotor and in 1833 allowed the Boka Naval Society to be founded. The society was dissolved in 1849 and founded again in 1859. The Boka Naval Society has become a cultural society of the natives of the Bay of Kotor that preserves ancient customs. The uniform of the members is a formal dress of the natives of the Bay of Kotor, with black as the dominant colour (cap, coat, trousers, stockings and shoes), made more lively by the violet colour of the waistcoat and yellow tassels.




HPM/PMH-032886(a-j)