Lukáš Jurčo was born in 1992 in Detva. The region where he was born is generally associated mainly with live expressions of traditional folk culture. Despite this fact, in a family that comes from western Slovakia, traditional culture was not accentuated in any way. The initial impulse, but also subsequent direction, was conditioned by a meeting with teacher Anton Trebuľa – Kečkár. Anton Trebuľa is a local teacher whose primary interest was the research of traditional culture and photographing its disappearing expressions. During joint trips as part of a hiking group, he was instilled by Anton Trebuľa which expressions of traditional culture are significant, remarkable, which are disappearing and need to be documented quickly. During these trips, he acquired the first artifacts for his collection of traditional clothing, historical items, photographs, and the like. These research trips across the vast settlement background of the Podpoľanie region lasted even during high school studies and directed him to further life steps – studying history at FF UMB in Banská Bystrica.

Even during elementary and high school years, he experimented with crafts such as woodcarving, attempts at making flutes, and the like. However, these attempts did not have the necessary quality, and he did not persist with these forms of craftwork. A turning point was the memory of a man from their neighborhood, with whom she spent a lot of time as a child, as the families were friendly. This man was furrier master Martin Kamenský. His mother remembered well the arrangement of his workshop, the atmosphere, and the scents contained within it. This fact motivated him, and with the help of his mother, without any erudition and necessary tools, he sewed his first fur coat – a copy (of very poor quality) of one of the fur coats he had in his collection. However, it was clear that he would need advice and help from someone more experienced. Fortunately, in the vicinity of the high school dormitory, he lived and worked as a furrier Karol Jurášek, who willingly showed him the basic furrier procedures for cutting and sewing products. Under Master Jurášek, he learned to use three basic furrier stitches and use a furrier knife to cut parts. As he gained craft skills, he also gained theoretical knowledge. He began to conduct targeted, systematic field research focused on photographing and possibly obtaining preserved furrier products, tools, and historical photographs. The first outcome of these studies was furrier products, but also his final thesis, for which he obtained a bachelor’s degree. He completed his academic education in the field of history with a thesis titled “Sociocultural Development of Men’s Folk Costume in Podpoľanie,” for which he obtained a master’s degree. During this time, he continued to improve his furrier work and fully developed cooperation with Mr. Jozef Kučer, who was also engaged in furrier craft – primarily in material processing – fur. Together, they formed a furrier “duo,” and for several years, they shared the work that one furrier could handle in the past.

After completing his studies at the university, he did not find work in his field, and unfortunately, no prospects were emerging. He decided to fully dedicate himself to furrier craft as a craftsman. He obtained his trade license in 2018. In 2022, he moved from the town of Hriňová to the settlement “U Bábeľov,” in the local part of Slanec. In a reconstructed building of a former agricultural settlement, he set up a workshop where he can also engage in processing furs and leather. He is currently perhaps the only active furrier who masters the complete process of traditional furrier work, without using machines. As a furrier, writer, and researcher of traditional folk culture, he continues to work to this day.

Lukáš Jurčo’s work combines several aspects. The furrier craft itself is based on a chain of authentically furrier production activities in the Podpoľanie and Novohrad regions that have been interrupted for several years. However, the basic parameters for performing this work come from intensive field research. Interpreting the results of this research through furrier work is therefore a scientific method – an experiment. In the field of ethnology, this approach is not common in Slovakia, but in other scientific disciplines, such as archaeology, it is widespread. In principle, we can say that some craft techniques were not described in older literature or by informants, and the only way to familiarize oneself with them, grasp them, and further use them was to carry out experiments. The results are specific products that, in the vast majority of cases, represent copies of irretrievably damaged products found in the field, but also the adoption of lost craft skills. He applied this method to other expressions of traditional culture as well – for example, in the production of footwear (slippers, woven woolen socks), in the production of belts and harness caps, in the weaving of simple baskets – opáloks, or chains decorating men’s hats. He also proceeds similarly in the field of traditional building, where he learned to make and install straw roofing, manually process wood by carving, and the like. All of these techniques were already forgotten in the locality where he lives, and he mastered them by the “trial and error” technique.

Performing craft experiments is not an end in itself. In addition to replicas of irretrievably damaged products, the results of research and experiments are summarized into separate monographic works or studies in the works of other authors or in collections. The latest work entitled “Furrier’s Diaries – Stories of Forgotten Furrier Masters and Their Products” combines precise scientific facts obtained through research and insights gained by conducting experiments. However, these facts are presented to the reader in a highly fictionalized form, with elements of factual literature. This work is a tribute to all furrier masters from Podpoľanie and Novohrad. In most cases, it is the only tangible memory of their work. The basis for the publication is the Civic Association Krnofeľ, of which he is the chairman.

The products he creates are made using two approaches. Particularly valuable and interesting pieces are also tried to be made in scale 1:1 to the preserved original. In the case that the copy is intended for the current needs of customers, they are adjusted in size to the specific figures of the customers.

In his work, he primarily focuses on furrier products, mainly from the regions of Podpoľanie and Novohrad. However, since he masters all the necessary technological procedures, he can also produce fur coats from other regions, such as Liptov (Osada, Teplička), Spiš – (Vikártovce, Orlov, Bačovský serdak from Oľšavica), Horehronie – Polomka) and Hont – (Senohrad, Sucháň, Žibritov). Lukáš Jurčo presents his work on multiple platforms. The primary one is publishing extensive posts on social networks and the Krnofeľ Association website. Furthermore, the production or collection items from his collection are regularly presented at various festivals and cultural events – such as Koliesko in Kokava nad Rimavicou, Klenovská Rontouka, Podpolianske festivities in Detva, Gazdovanie na Hriňovské lazoch, and the like. An important part of his work is lecturing and presenting activities. As a crafts lecturer, he has worked since 2017 at the Rozhybkosti festival. The craft workshops are primarily aimed at children and young people and mainly present furrier craft. He also performs similar lecture activities for several educational centers in the area. As a lecturer in the production of knitted woolen socks, he also collaborated with RCR ÚĽUV in Banská Bystrica.

In his work, he necessarily collaborates. Among his closest collaborators are Peter Brada, an expert in traditional building construction from Hrušov, with whom he completes almost all field research. When researching at memory institutions, he collaborates with the manufacturer of fujara and flutes František Kostúr, or an expert in the Novohrad costume and traditional culture Matej Baláž. In consultations during research or publication activities, he collaborates with prominent Slovak ethnologists – Peter Obuch, Katarína Babčáková. One of his publications was reviewed by Prof. Ján Botík. He attaches great importance to cooperation with leading folklore ensembles, and the most valuable was the invitation from the Lúčnica Art Ensemble for a substantial exchange of fur coats from their wardrobe. This collaboration is a true honor, as the original fur coats for this ensemble were made by the most famous Podpoľanie furrier Mikuláš Šufliarsky. He considers the fact that his products were replaced by Lukáš Jurčo’s products as a true appreciation of the quality of his work.

Furrier craft has become his livelihood, and he would like it to remain so in the future. For twelve years of active furrier work, he has mastered all the necessary technological procedures and managed to make each of the products from the Podpoľanie furrier production portfolio, including reviving the production of several products from complete oblivion (wrist warmers, side-fastening fur coats, gloves, trousers).