Medieval Clothing in Second Bulgarian Empire Unveiled by Artist in Book Based on Archaeological Research
The cover of the book “Bulgarian Medieval Garments (13th-14th Century” features the author Kalina Atanasova in medieval Bulgarian clothing posing together with a mural that the respective female costume reconstruction is based on. Photo: Badamba
Detailed reconstructions of medieval clothing from Bulgaria in the High and Late Middle Ages which are based on profound archaeological research have been unveiled in a book by Bulgarian artist and designer Kalina Atanasova.
The book entitled “Reconstructions of Bulgarian Medieval Garments (13th-14th Century)” refers to the period of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396), and is based on Atanasova’s 12 years of research on the various types of civilian clothing in Bulgaria in the High and Late Middle Ages.
Atanasova has presented her book and the research it is based upon at a special event at the Varna Museum of Archaeology in the Black Sea city of Varna.
The book is edited by two professional historians, Dr. Vanya Popova and Dr. Ivan Chokoev, and contains photos by Krasimir Yovchev, Angel Yordanov, Alexander Minchev, Elina Todorova, Angel Nenov, and author Kalina Atanasova.
“Reconstructions of Bulgarian Medieval Garments (13th-14th Century)” has 189 pages and a total of 174 illustrations (81 photos and reproductions of medieval murals and archaeological finds, 20 photographs of reconstructions by the author of medieval Bulgarian clothing, 55 graphical reconstructions by the author, 18 illustrations by the author).
The book has been published by Ongal Publishing House (ISBN 978-619-7079-82-1) (in Bulgarian), and is sold in bookstores and online via the Badamba website for the price of BGN 60 (app. EUR 30).
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The full cover of the book “Bulgarian Medieval Garments (13th-14th Century)” by Kalina Atanasova. Photo: Badamba
“The book is a full-color album dedicated to the civilian costume in the Second Bulgarian Empire (military and clergy clothing excluded)… It describes the cloths of men, women, and children; Tsars, boyars (nobles), and ordinary people. [It is based on an analysis] of all preserved portraits of medieval Bulgarian nobles as well as [archaeological] finds from 17 medieval necropolises in different parts of the country,” explains the official description of the book on Badamba.info, Kalina Atanasova’s website dedicated to her long-term project for researching medieval Bulgarian clothing entitled “Bulgarian Medieval Costumes” (which is also featured on the “Bulgarian Medieval Costumes” Facebook Page).
The book is also based on previous scholarly publications on the clothes in high and late medieval Bulgaria but is said to be the most comprehensive research on the topic to date. It is designed as a scientific publication for historians, archaeologists, arts experts, and anyone who is interested in history and the Middle Ages.
Author Kalina Atanasova has a Master’s degree in arts from Veliko Tarnovo University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, and has been working on the research and reconstruction of medieval Bulgarian garments since 2004.
In her career as an artist and a researcher so far, Atanasova has participated in a large number of festivals, historical reenactments, medieval fairs, lectures, and conferences.
Her latest international participation was in the 2016 Conference on “Nish and Byzantium” in the city of Nis, Serbia. Atanasova’s article in English on “The Headdress of Three Female Ktetors’ Portraits from Donja Kamenica” has been published in the Proceedings volume for the conference.
View more photos of Kalina Atanasova’s reconstructions of medieval Bulgarian costumes.
Also check out the Facebook album of the presentation of the “Bulgarian Medieval Garments” book at the Varna Museum of Archaeology.
Author Kalina Atanasova during the presentation of her book on clothing in the Second Bulgarian Empire in the Varna Museum of Archaeology. Photos: Bulgarian Medieval Costumes Facebook Page / Elina Todorova
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