riečica

Sieve for sifting. The frame of the riečica had a round or square shape with a diameter of 25–60 cm (larger than a regular sieve). It was made from spruce or fir bark. The bottom of the riečica with large openings was produced by weaving bark, from iron or brass wire, or by weaving from thin bark strips – ličky. Riečice were originally used for cleaning grain and legumes (pea, bean, harvest riečica) through sifting, the so-called "cúdenie." Other uses of riečica included: hive sieve (placed in the lower part of beehives), removing dust from coarse flour, groats, chopped oats, in masonry work, etc. These varied uses determined their shape and bottoms of different densities and materials. The production of riečice was the craft of riečičiarstvo (sieving/sitárstvo). A riečica with a round bark frame, like a sieve, was also used in certain divination rituals.