An authentic craft “comes to life” at the Ethnographic House of the Regional History Museum – Pazardzhik

“Bulgarian Felts – A Message from Antiquity” is the title of the newest visiting exhibition at the Ethnographic House of the Regional History Museum – Pazardzhik. The exhibition is organized by the Regional Ethnographic Museum – Plovdiv and will open to visitors on March 6 at 6:00 p.m.

The exhibition presents one of the oldest textile crafts – felting. As early as antiquity, the nomadic peoples of the steppes discovered a way to use sheep’s fleece, creating items from arranged wool. Felt – a non-woven textile produced without the use of a vertical loom – is considered the earliest form of textile in human history. It has been used to make yurts, blankets, rugs, clothing, footwear, hats, and various household items.

In the Bulgarian lands, the felting technique was brought by the Proto-Bulgarians. Ancient ornamental, compositional, and technological features testify to the migrations of this ethnic group and to cultural interactions with Central Asian, Altai, and Caucasian peoples. The term “felt” was first mentioned in the Ostromir Gospel in the 11th century.

Felt was widespread across the entire Bulgarian ethnic territory where sheep breeding was developed – from the Vidin region to Dobruja, and from Macedonia, the Sofia region, and the Sredna Gora mountains through Thrace to Strandzha. Until the end of the 19th century, different names were used for it – plas, plastina, plastitsa, plusche, pazla, keche, stele, tegaltia, teltia, and beleme.

Colorful felt carpets, spread on the floor or hung on the walls, brought warmth and beauty to the home, and due to their rich symbolism they were often used as wedding rugs for newlyweds.

Koprivshtitsa is known as the center where felting traditions have been best preserved, and some of the most impressive multicolored examples of folk art originate there. The tradition survived the longest in the Vidin region – until the mid-20th century. In recent decades, however, interest in this ancient craft has been revived, and contemporary felt masters are breathing new life into the tradition.

The exhibition “Bulgarian Felts – A Message from Antiquity” invites the public to experience the richness of an ancient craft that preserves the memory of our cultural roots and the skills of generations of Bulgarian masters. It will remain open to visitors at the museum in Pazardzhik until June 1.