Bulgarian Bulgarian craftscrafts

Crafts comprise a whole host of Crafts comprise a whole host of activities and hobbies that are activities and hobbies that are

related to making things with one's related to making things with one's own hands and skill. These can be own hands and skill. These can be

sub-divided into handicrafts or sub-divided into handicrafts or "traditional crafts" (doing things "traditional crafts" (doing things the old way) and "the rest". Some the old way) and "the rest". Some

crafts have been practised for crafts have been practised for centuries centuries

In our country the skills in craftsmanship In our country the skills in craftsmanship have been handed down during the have been handed down during the

centuries from father to son and mother to centuries from father to son and mother to daughter. There were no books for that. The daughter. There were no books for that. The personal dedication was the only means by personal dedication was the only means by

which the master revealed the secrets of the which the master revealed the secrets of the craft to the apprentice. And this is where craft to the apprentice. And this is where part of the mysticism of each craftpart of the mysticism of each craft lieslies. .

Leather products are typical for all cattle-Leather products are typical for all cattle-breeding nations. When Bulgarians came to breeding nations. When Bulgarians came to settle down settle down oon the Balkann the Balkan peninsula peninsula they they

took with them the art of working the took with them the art of working the leather. Their everleather. Their everyyday life activities day life activities

depended on things made of leather - their depended on things made of leather - their homes, dishes, clothes and many other homes, dishes, clothes and many other

necessities. necessities.

Leather Manufacture Leather Manufacture

The Loom The Loom

The manufacture of cloths in these lands The manufacture of cloths in these lands has very old traditions. The cultural has very old traditions. The cultural

symbiosis between Thracians, Slavs and symbiosis between Thracians, Slavs and Bulgarians turned this craft into an art. The Bulgarians turned this craft into an art. The

ethnic characteristics of each of these ethnic characteristics of each of these nations, as well as the high quality nations, as well as the high quality

standards set by Byzantium, are grounded standards set by Byzantium, are grounded in it. Ethnography and folklore pay special in it. Ethnography and folklore pay special

attention to the symbols applied in the attention to the symbols applied in the cloths.cloths.

WoodWood Carving Carving

Art carving is one of the oldest Art carving is one of the oldest decorative applied arts which is decorative applied arts which is remarkable for its ornamental or remarkable for its ornamental or subject figures on wood, stone, subject figures on wood, stone,

bone, mother-of-pearl, and bone, mother-of-pearl, and more. The most popular one in more. The most popular one in Bulgaria is ornamental wood-Bulgaria is ornamental wood-

carving.carving.

One of the most remarkable phenomena One of the most remarkable phenomena in the history of pottery is the painted in the history of pottery is the painted

pottery of Preslav from the second half of pottery of Preslav from the second half of IXth and the beginning of Xth century. IXth and the beginning of Xth century. Pottery is considered one of the richest Pottery is considered one of the richest

parts of the cultural heritage of the parts of the cultural heritage of the Bulgarians. It is a personification of their Bulgarians. It is a personification of their centuries-long traditions and originality, centuries-long traditions and originality,

as well as of their sense of beauty.as well as of their sense of beauty.

PotteryPottery

CoppersmithCoppersmith

Copper articles production was best Copper articles production was best developed in Bulgaria in the XIXth developed in Bulgaria in the XIXth

century. There were a few century. There were a few coppersmith's centres of a major coppersmith's centres of a major

importance throughout the country.importance throughout the country.

Bulgarian iconography appeared about a Bulgarian iconography appeared about a century after Christianity had been officially century after Christianity had been officially

adopted in Bulgaria, which was about the adopted in Bulgaria, which was about the middle of the IXth century. Bulgarian middle of the IXth century. Bulgarian iconography follows the progress of iconography follows the progress of

Bulgarian history, and this leads to quite Bulgarian history, and this leads to quite many possibilities of establishing political, many possibilities of establishing political,

social, cultural and other relations. social, cultural and other relations.

Bulgarian IconographyBulgarian Iconography

Wine production has always been a mystery in the Wine production has always been a mystery in the past. The scientists from the Bulgarian national past. The scientists from the Bulgarian national institute of history found traces of wine over the institute of history found traces of wine over the golden treasure of Panagiurishte which remained golden treasure of Panagiurishte which remained

covered in a tomb for more than 2000 years.Today covered in a tomb for more than 2000 years.Today Bulgaria is one of the big wine exporters.Bulgaria is one of the big wine exporters.

Wine Production Wine Production