Beyond the Forest (Magical Interiors of Transylvania)

A captivating exploration of Transylvania’s rich vernacular decorative arts and the enchanting, inspirational interiors that persist to this day.

A timeless crucible for high-quality artisanship, this region of Romania celebrates its history while giving countless ideas to today’s design audience. Through an abundance of textiles, carpets, painted walls and furniture, hand-painted ceramics, and embroidered pillows, the book reveals a world where craftsmanship, tradition, and everyday life come together in vibrant harmony. Think of a glorious frenzy of pattern, handwrought folk art, and layered environments of bold color. Cropper’s striking photography is paired with deep research and history, offering readers a more nuanced look at the land and its remarkable decorative heritage. The images capture intimate domestic spaces, carefully preserved details, and the beauty of handcrafted objects that define the region’s aesthetic identity. 

Griffiths, with more than twenty years of experience studying the folk traditions of rural Transylvania, describes the history and enduring presence of dowry rooms, spaces filled with treasured textiles prepared for marriage; unique local traditions of painted furniture and patterned walls; and densely decorated houses and churches. 

While Transylvania remains at the heart of the book, the journey also includes Maramureș, an adjacent region noted for its cultural richness, and explores the traditions of Hungarian, Romanian, and other groups resident in the region. Organized around interior spaces—from specific mediums to houses and places of worship—this book offers decorators, collectors, and lovers of history a window into a mesmerizing world of folk art, much of which is being documented here for the first time.