THE PATH OF METAL: FROM THE MINES AND FURNACES, THROUGH THE FIELDS, TO
THE JEWELERY GLOSS AND THE BELL RING
Continuation of Part 1
Gunsmithing was developed in Sliven, Gabrovo, Gotse Delchev, Madan, Smolyan and others. The Sliven tufeks were so famous for their well-made rifles and pistols that merchants from Asia Minor, Persia, etc. went there to buy forged bottles, boilie rifles, long pistols, sponges, etc.
Horseshoeing is closely related to the main livelihoods - agriculture and animal husbandry, and to traditional transport with harnessed and freight cattle. In the past, there were horseshoe bats in almost all inns and several horseshoe bats in the towns and villages, which served tenants (people who carry goods for a fee). The hoofing of the equidae was done by the nalbantin and the owner, who held the shod leg with a rope while the master forged. The ungulates (oxen, buffaloes) were shod in a supine position. Horseshoes, petals, are of four types: horse, mule, donkey and ox. Some craftsmen made special horseshoes for the winter, with spikes for the ice.
The knife-making was developed in the Gabrovo, Ihtiman, Shipka and other places, as the knife-makers made knives, knives, swords, razors and others. Copper-making is an ancient craft in the Bulgarian lands, practiced by the ancient Thracians and Roman colloquists. Honey extraction centers were Kratovo, Burgas, Chiprovtsi and others. Honey mining and coppersmithing during the Ottoman slavery, already referred to as coppersmithing, marked a great development. The Turks preferred copper vessels: cauldrons, pots, braziers, bowls, sahans, trays, blue, pans, bowls, kipki, cups, jugs, gums, jugs, cafes and more.
There is another craft connected with coppersmithing - tinsmithing, bending. It consists in covering the copper surfaces with tin to prevent poisoning when food stays in oxidized containers.
Bell-making can also be referred to the processing of metals. This is a craft associated with making bells and bells for animals. Foundry is another craft related to metalworking. It creates alloys of copper, lead and zinc, which are used to make various household utensils, door and window handles, candlesticks, incense burners, crosses, jewelry (rings, earrings, buckles), "divits" and ink pens, bells. to lead to the casting of bells for the churches.
The processing of precious metals (silver and gold) has a thousand-year tradition in the Bulgarian lands. The Thracian golden treasure that has reached us is a shining example of this. In the 10th century, goldsmithing was mentioned as a separate craft industry in Bulgarian cities. After the 12th century, there are also reports of village goldsmiths. Since then, the specialization of goldsmiths in various goldsmithing techniques began: casting, forging and hammering, engraving, openwork, filigree, granulation, enamel, installation of precious stones, amber and others. The craft is also called goldsmithing.
The works of the goldsmith's craft satisfy the needs for jewelry (earrings, bracelets, buckles, also called chaprazi, rings, chains and cigarettes for men) and various objects of cult purpose (crosses, incense burners, fittings of religious books) and others.
Gold was most often mined from sand, washed in clay or wooden troughs (kopanki), and then melted in special clay vessels called pots. The making of the objects was most often done in the four techniques: filigree, forged, cast and enamel. In the filigree technique, gold or silver threads are drawn with pliers through a special plate with different sized holes, from which jewelry and ornaments are then made. The plate with holes is called a shirt. The forging of the objects is done on an anvil with the help of hammers. During forging, the object is placed on the anvil made of hard resin called zift. For the detailed making of gold objects, the goldsmith uses small chisels, called cuttings. Casting of goldsmith's objects takes place in molds of clay and stone.
Author: Stefan Bonev
Sources: Hr. Vakarelski, "Ethnography of Bulgaria"