Goldsmithing

The craft of goldsmithing, or kuyumdzhiystvo, and the use of kui are traditional practices found in Bulgaria during various historical periods. This craft has survived in rural communities over the centuries and forms part of Bulgarian cultural tradition.
During the Middle Ages and under the Ottoman Empire, when agriculture and traditional crafts played an important role in people’s lives, kui and goldsmithing were essential to society. This was a period of enduring traditions and the preservation of folk crafts.
During the Bulgarian National Revival in the 18th–19th centuries, when the country sought renewal and the restoration of national identity, craft traditions, including goldsmithing, were emphasised and valued.
In the modern period, despite changes in technology and ways of life, this craft continues to exist in some communities as part of their cultural heritage and remains an important element of Bulgarian identity.