Ethnological exhibition

The curatorship organised the first permanent ethnological exhibition in 1986. Until then the collection had only been in the form of a repository. The permanent exhibition still stands today, along with some additions, on part of the ground floor and the entire first floor of Ropasova Hiša, Mej vrti 2, and of course after 20 years it is in need of a thorough reworking of its content and design.

The first floor offers a view of folk fine art, with numerous paintings on glass, wooden folk sculptures and painted furniture. The annual cycle of peasant work is indicated by collections of implements and devices symbolising farm work throughout the year. This work cycle is followed by a cycle of calendar events and customs, with the emphasis on holidays, from the pust carnival of Shrove Tuesday to Easter, and from Christmas to Epiphany. There is also a special presentation of horse breeding. Craft activities in Dolenjska are showcased by presentations of the honey product and beeswax candle trade and pottery. The honey product and candle workshop shows the two basic methods of making candles, and the tiny honey product and candle making tools, along with some original furnishings from the Novo Mesto Murn gingerbread workshop. An especially precious feature of this workshop is the numerous carved wooden gingerbread moulds from the 19th century, with some even dating from the 18th century. The pottery craft is shown through a cross-section of the Kržan pottery workshop in Šentjernej, with its foot-driven pottery wheels and pottery items from Šentjernejsko polje along with some fine examples from the second half of the 19th century. The last room concludes the presentation of commercial activities with a look at fairs and markets, where craft items and farm products were sold. There is also a display of old measuring devices that were in use up until 1876 and new decimal measuring devices. Special mention should be made of a bushel measure from 1854 and an inch measure, as well as a chain measure in fathoms for measuring out land.

Since 1999 the ground floor has also offered displays of milling and viticulture. These include milling equipment, with a pair of millstones and small milling tools and devices. Viticulture is represented by items used in cellaring and in tending vineyards, including the front portion of a wine store with a preserved wooden lock.

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Folk art