Cartwrighting and ironwork

The history of cartwrighting and ironwork in Bulgaria is closely linked to the manufacture of vehicles, mainly animal-drawn wagons, carts and light carts. To create sturdy, functional vehicles, Bulgarian cartwrights and ironworkers used a range of skills in carpentry, metal forging and woodcarving.
Making wagons and carts required not only exacting engineering skills but also artistry in their decoration and design. Master cartwrights had to be highly skilled in combining different materials and techniques to create vehicles that were functional, beautiful and distinctive.
The museum exhibition in Vratsa devoted to the phaeton and the Etar architectural and ethnographic complex offer opportunities to discover the richness of this craft and learn about the traditions and skills of Bulgarian cartwrights and ironworkers. A great Vratsa master such as Mito Orozov forms part of this craft’s history and is an important representative of Bulgarian handcrafting in this field.