Ceramics First_Bulgarian_Empire

the main sources bulgarian domestic use-oriented pottery necropoleis @ novi pazar, devnya, , varna. vessels made potter s wheel, unlike slavic practice. since 9th century two-story ovens used annealing of pottery. shape , decoration of bulgarian pottery similar found in northern caucasus, crimea, , shores of sea of azov. growing exchange byzantine empire following adoption of christianity led increase in shapes , decorations of bulgarian pottery unprecedented in slavic world.

one of famous features of pliska-preslav culture decoration of palaces , churches lacquered ceramic plates, may indicate near eastern (arabic) influence. produced of white clay, known kaolin. in 10th century ceramic workshops in , around preslav produced high quality ceramic tiles in so-called preslav style used in monumental construction projects , exported abroad. many of them marked cyrillic or glagolitic letters on rear side. archaeologists have discovered tile of style in kiev, showing bulgarian influences in russia. ceramic plates painted include geometric or vegetative elements , birds. had depictions of virgin, saints , apostles, both in full figures, portraits , medallions. due destruction of pliska , preslav, fragments , details of ceramic decoration have survived. among notable of well-preserved, 20-tile icon of st theodore, found in ruins of patleina monastery of saint panteleimon in outskirts of preslav site of 1 of workshops. extensive use of ceramic decoration in preslav , nearby churches , monasteries pre-dates widespread use in constantinople.