The manufacturer has been dedicated to the production of willow baskets since 1949. He gained experience in weaving baskets from his grandfather and later his father. He inherited their tools, which he uses when working with willows. He spent his youth and adulthood in the mountains as a shepherd. Besides shepherding, all the men in his family were involved in playing the fujara or whistle. The Šavrtko family’s baskets were once widely known for their quality. Working with willows was mainly done during winter when there was no work at the mountain pasture. At that time, they also made slingshots from brass sheet for the bell straps or carved ladles, moulds for cheese curds, or dishes needed at the pasture.

The selection of suitable material for making a willow basket takes place in the mountains or by the water. The winter months are considered the most suitable time for gathering raw materials. He prepares the willows, like his ancestors, using an old proven method. Wood is most often processed after being steamed in the adapted old bread oven. He uses fresh wood less often as it does not split as well as steamed wood. He splits the wood on an ancient two-handled stool with a special knife. He tries to steam willow rods of equal thickness for one basket. He mostly uses maple, ash, but also elm, oak, hornbeam, spruce, rosehip, hornbeam, or walnut for making the willow rods. He makes several types of baskets – for gathering mushrooms, for carrying logs to the fireplace, for pantry storage, as well as those that can be carried on the back (backpacks). In addition, he also makes trays, small baskets for offerings in church, lanterns, and even bird feeders. Besides willow baskets, he also masters the technique of making root baskets. The pleasure of making baskets from split willow rods remained with Florián Šavrtko even in his retirement.

In 2020, he was awarded the title of Master of Folk Art Production in the field of willow production.

Source: Mizeráková M.: Faithful to the Ancestral Legacy, RUD 1/2021