The cap is made in the form of a flat cylinder, the upper surface is red, made of cloth and called tepelak, surrounded by black satin edge called derevija. There are many flowers and, sometimes, stars on the tepelak, and it is pined to a maid’s had. The symbolism of colours should be pointed out, where, for example, the red colour of the tepelak symbolizes the blood of people who died in 1389 in Kosovo, while the black edge stands for mourning. Vuk Karadžić wrote that when one tore the black derevija, the cap remained red and that it was adorned with coins according to the affluence of the owner. The Montenegro Post is publishing a commemorative postage stamp entitled “Montenegrin Maid Cap” within the edition “Art in Montenegro through the Centuries 2016” containing two stamps and two First Day envelopes. The author of the conceptual design is Marko Zogović, a graphic designer from Podgorica.
Muslim jewellery is very rich, extraordinarily shaped and full of decorative details, made with different techniques and of precious materials, mostly gold, silver and pearls. The elegant form emphasizes the headdress named iljanlak, a kind of cap, celeposa, made from silk worn by rich brides and young women. It used to be decorated with golden embroidery on its top, while its circumferential part was trimmed by a pearl net and a string of ducats falling on a maid’s forehead. The Montenegro Post is publishing a commemorative postage stamp entitled “Muslim Maid Cap” within the edition “Art in Montenegro through the Centuries 2016” containing two stamps and two First Day envelopes. The author of the conceptual design is Aleksandra Božović Arabelović, a sculptor from Podgorica.
