On the 1st Oct, 2013, the museum opened a permanent collection “Traditional Bulgarian Dolls”. The collection consists of more than 300 dolls and was built up over half century by Vassily Gordienko (1930-2012). These dolls reveal the traditional art of doll making in Bulgaria. Such a variety and riches can be seen only in our museum!
The dolls are made of wood, fabric and decorations and each carries the individual style of its creator. The oldest one was made in 1962. The collection shows an art which people know little about. It is a relatively new craft. They capture the riches and the colors of Bulgarian national costumes with the specific style and decoration characteristic of the different ethnographic regions: Shopi, Thracia, Dobruja, Rhodope, Macedonia, north Bulgaria. The collection also comprises ritual dolls: lazarki and kukeri.
These dolls are our little ambassadors – they are one of the favourite souvenirs of the tourists. The collection is permanent and can be seen within the opening hours of the museum. You have the opportunity to purchase national dolls by contemporary crafts masters and you can create a doll of your own.