As a portal between Europe and the Near East, the Balkans, and particularly Bulgaria, has served as conduits, transferring both cultural traits and artistic techniques between the two regions. One of the most important and highest artistic achievements of the First Bulgarian Empire, centered at Veliki Preslav – white-clay painted ceramic - represents an artistic technique borrowed by Bulgarians from the Near East. Because of a local abundance of white clay and other resources for making ceramics and the need for architectural decorations, Preslav quickly became a center of this borrowed technology. The collection includes remarkable tableware, as well as decorative plates, architectural details (tiles and cornices) and most importantly—unique ceramic icons of saints and other religious compositions. Such decorative and religious artifacts show that Preslav was an artistic center as well as a literary, educational, and cultural center.

However, debate continues regarding whether Preslav or Constantinople developed ceramic icon painting first within the region. Interestingly, similar manufacturing techniques did appear in Constantinople, but at the end of 10th century and the beginning of 11th century, which has been attributed to the conquering of Preslav in 971 and the consequent borrowing of this technology.

    Here follow some of the works of  the artists-ceramics,  which helped make Preslavian artistic style popular far beyond the borders of Mediaeval Bulgaria.

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