Precious National Revival-era jewelry and authentic prints are brought together in the large-scale exhibition "Spirit and Matter: The Goldsmith’s Art in the Bulgarian Lands." The exposition is dedicated to the Bulgarian National Revival period, interpreting this era through artifacts that intertwine exquisite craftsmanship, aesthetic beauty, deep faith, and rich symbolism. The main conceptual focus of the project is the dialogue between the material and the spiritual, expressed through the visual language by which our ancestors communicate with us to this day.
The official opening of the exhibition is scheduled for September 17, 2026, at 18:00. The event will take place at the "Sea Casino" Cultural Center, in the "Alexander Georgiev – Kodzhakafaliyata" hall; admission will be free for visitors only during the opening itself. The exhibition will remain in the city of Burgas until October 30, 2026. For the remainder of the period, citizens and guests of the city can view it between 09:00 and 20:00 by purchasing an admission ticket.
The exhibition features exceptional works of traditional Bulgarian goldsmithing, distinguished by precise craftsmanship, a variety of forms, and a remarkable eye for detail. A key highlight of the collection is women’s jewelry, which in the past served a vital identification function, indicating the social status of its wearer. When combined with traditional costumes, these items turned women into true "queens," as noted by travelers during the National Revival. Among the exhibits presented are:
- Traditional jewelry such as belt buckles (pafti), chin pieces, headpieces (tepelyatsi), and bracelets;
- Interesting snuffboxes and amulets, decorated with skillfully engraved floral and zoomorphic motifs.
The pieces were created using specific techniques such as casting, hammering, filigree, and cloisonné enamel. They were crafted in the workshops of renowned National Revival centers such as Chiprovtsi, Vratsa, Vidin, Sliven, Panagyurishte, Pazardzhik, Teteven, and others. Each of these objects not only bears the marks of time but also testifies to the people's attitude toward beauty and identity.
Alongside the jewelry, National Revival-era prints (engravings) are displayed, completing the picture of daily and religious life during the period. These paper icons—depictions of the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, saints, or monastery complexes—were acquired during pilgrimages to holy sites or offered by wandering monks known as taxidiots. Carefully placed in wooden frames in prominent spots in homes, they served as symbols of faith, a means of religious identification, and patriotic education. Combining these two types of artifacts in one exhibition creates an interesting parallel between the masterful production of goldsmith workshops and the spiritual uplift of the era.
The entire collection has been provided by Antonio Vasilev, Deputy Chairman of the Union of Collectors in Bulgaria, who has dedicated his efforts to the preservation of cultural heritage. The exhibition's visit to Burgas is part of the city's efforts to develop its cultural program while supporting its bid for European Capital of Culture in 2032. The project serves as a reminder that material heritage is, above all, spiritual memory, reminding us that behind the gold and every ornament lie human stories that have preserved the spirit of an entire era.