Craftsmanship in Shumen

Craftsmanship in Shumen started in ancient times. Traditional crafts related to agriculture and household activities such as furriery, tailoring, weaving and iron smithing were developed. At the heydays of the Bulgarian Revival period Shumen was a craft and trade centre. There were about 40 crafts. According to the housing and population census data of 1866, three quarters of the population was employed in craftsmanship and trade. Main crafts were shoemaking, slipper making, furriery, leatherworking, harness making, coppersmithing, tinker, dyeing, ironsmithing, pottery, masonry, goldsmithing, goat’s hair processing and weaving. Currently in Shumen region are represented all crafts. These include building, restoration, electronics, metal work, wood, tailoring, textile, furriery, food and drink processing, glass work and ceramics. Shumen is proud with its fotographers who participate in many exhibitions. Represented are applied arts such as leather processing, blacksmithing, embroidery, knitting, ethnic doll making, icon painting, ceramics, woodcarving.