The women from chiprovtzi /chiprovchanki/  - living human treasures of Bulgaria

For centuries the women from the small town of Chiprovtzi, located at the foot of the western Balkan Mountains, are renowned as skillful carpet weavers. Their works astonish the world with their beauty, spirit and philosophy. In their unique ornaments, shapes and compositions the Chiprovchanki weave much good taste and imagination.

They use a wooden vertical loom and a special technology, which has been handed down from mother to daughter for already tens of generations.  The main material that the masters use in the carpets is high quality sheep wool - mostly weft. That material can be used for the base as well, but most often the base is made of cotton. The wool is coloured using various natural dyes: vegetable, animal, mineral. Only true masters know how to build the composition of a carpet and what colour to use for each pattern. The workmanship requires much time and effort. Probably that is why the weaving is associated with many customs and beliefs. For example, when starting a new carpet, women watch who will be the first to enter the room and by this judge will the work be effective. Then they weave into the carpet dreams, feelings, messages…
The skill to weave a Chiprovtzi carpet - this is a real treasure. It is no chance that in 2012 the women from Chiprovtzi were declared living human treasures of Bulgaria.

Photos are provided by Velinov family from Chiprovtzi.