We went to the Museum of Wooden Ingots in Câmpulung Moldovenesc

"You can't film. Come talk to me." The firm tone of the voice on the phone cut me off. I was passing through Câmpulung Moldovenesc that day and had set off with big thoughts. In Câmpulung Moldovenesc, I was going to visit both museums in Câmpulung Moldovenesc that deal with wood (which I knew about), the Museum of Wood Art and the Museum of Wooden Ingots. The Wood Art Museum was under renovation. I was left with the Museum of Wooden Ingots and I had put all my hopes in it. Unfortunately the beginning was bad. Or so it seemed.

At 1.00 p.m., when we set the appointment, Mr. Ioan Mateescu was waiting for me. I must admit that at first I couldn't tell if I was intruding. The museum is in a house half inhabited by Ioan Mateescu and his wife, a descendant of the history teacher Ion Țugui, who collected these wooden spoons throughout his life.

After we got to know each other better, Mr. Mateescu was a true host introducing me to his impressive collection of about 5,000 wooden spoons, some of their stories and the stories of the collector, Ion Țugui. As much as they could for an hour, as much as we spent together through, I repeat, the impressive collection. The house-museum has the entire first floor and half of the ground floor filled with exhibits, wooden spoons of all shapes and sizes, from home and abroad. Mr. Mateescu says that they are still coming from all sorts of countries, from former visitors who send, after they get home, a spoon specific to their country.

In addition to their diverse patterns and design, I was most impressed by the history stored there. Each spoon has its own story. Created by enthusiasts, some of them hundreds of years ago, they have passed through different hands over time, some better known, some less. The stories told by Mr. Mateescu are really very beautiful. If they are not true, he is very good at promoting the museum and the exhibits, but if they are even half true, then that museum harbors a lot of history.

It is too little to begin to tell you that that collection includes spoons in different types of wood, with geometric, astral, floral, animal, geometric, astral, floral, animal, different coats of arms or decorative. That you can see spoons, sprinkles, jugs, mugs or cups. If you want more details about the types of spoons in the museum, you can find them here here, on a page that you can also enter by scanning the barcode on the museum 😉 But they must be seen! Viewing the collection is free of charge, but it's best to let them know before your visit.

I am sorry Mr. Mateescu did not want to be filmed, recorded or photographed. He hardly let me take a few pictures. I remain of the opinion that it is a collection that deserves to be seen by as many people as possible, especially young people, but presented in a more friendly way. We also need to show them this part of history. I have made it my goal to persuade Mr. Mateescu to present the collection to us in a filmed material for the Revista din Lemn. I hope I succeed. When I left he wasn't as firm as he was at the beginning 😊