How is a larfa made?

Demonstration of making and gathering with artisans: Vid Prezelj, Marijan Rejc
Saturday, January 17, 3:00 PM
Writer France Bevk’s Homestead, Zakojca

On the 70th anniversary of the revival of the Cerkljanska Laufarija, the Cerkljanski Museum in 2026 will start offering artisan-focused activities, which will be an important part of this year’s museum program.

To begin, we open the doors to a world where faces are born from wood – the world of Cerkljanska masks, larfe.

• How does a larfa emerge from a single piece of linden wood?

• When does the wood “speak,” and when does the true expression appear?

• How much patience, steady hands, and imagination go into a single mask?

• Why are the masks of the laufar more than just masks – why are they character and part of our heritage?

At the gathering How is a larfa made?, together with artisans Marijan Rejc and Vid Prezelj, we will explore the basics of making larfe:

• Which wood is most suitable and why,

• What tools are used in the process,

• How shaping progresses from a rough design to detailed features,

• And stories from the workshop, experiences, and traditions passed down through generations.

The event is primarily aimed at children and families, but everyone interested in Cerkljanska Laufarija, wood, masks, and living heritage is warmly welcome.

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About the artisans

Marijan Rejc
Marijan Rejc has a talent for bringing inspiring shapes out of wood. From a single piece of linden wood, after many hours of work with chisels and a wooden mallet, he creates a mask to perfection – for himself, for his soul, for the Cerkljanska Laufarija. In his workshop, many other wooden products are born: turned bowls, trays, furniture, sculptures of human and animal forms… It is a pleasure to watch him skillfully extract a piece from a log with a chainsaw, visualizing it entirely in his mind without any sketches or plans on paper. A large wooden Neanderthal flute is his work. He also created much of the large Nativity scene by hand. Using a chainsaw, he shaped the large mask Ta terjastega, which hangs on the façade of the Gabriel House in Cerkno, as well as Ta terjastega in front of the post office and Peter Klepec at the Cerkno kindergarten. He also made some bicycle stands for the school and kindergarten.

Vid Prezelj
Wood is in his soul. Its smell and warmth draw him back repeatedly to a piece of wood that slowly takes shape under his hands. He makes bowls, pestles, cutting boards, jewelry… but larfe – masks – hold a special place. Crafting a single larfa, a carved mask from a single piece of linden wood, takes about thirty hours. This is meticulous work, where a face with expression and character gradually emerges from a rough shape. He already has an extensive personal collection and creates masks for the Cerkljanska Laufarija; some masks in the Cerkljanski Museum are also his work. Wood represents peace, precision, and a story that he can carve to the very last detail. Recently, he has been especially enjoying sculpting with a chainsaw.

Both are members of the local artisan association Driklc and the consortium of wooden mask makers Mascherai Alpini, which brings together the greatest masters of this craft from various Alpine countries.

Organization: City Museum Idrija and Laufarija Cerkno Association