Antique Bulgarian Bukliya in Carved Wood & Brass – Wine/Rakia Flask – Folk Art

A very beautiful traditional Bulgarian bukliya in carved wood, most likely dating from the second half of the 20th century.

The bukliya (also called ploska) is a traditional Balkan flask used mainly for wine or rakia, and associated with festivals, ceremonies, and traditional weddings.

This example is particularly decorative and shows remarkable craftsmanship.

The flask is made of several pieces of wood in different shades assembled around the circular body. Both faces are richly carved in relief and bear inscriptions in Cyrillic characters.

One face depicts a bunch of grapes with a large vine leaf, in reference to wine.

The other face is adorned with a fruit motif, most likely plums, traditionally associated with the making of rakia.

The inscriptions surrounding the decorations are popular humorous sayings dedicated to wine and rakia.

The object retains many particularly interesting features:

• Its turned wooden stopper;
• Its traditional strap in polychrome woven textile, with pom-poms;
• Its brass hoops and fastenings;
• Its small brass feet, allowing the bukliya to stand upright;
• Its deeply carved relief decoration;
• The assembly of woods in different shades forming its rim.

The whole piece shows a beautiful old patina and an authentically handmade character. The small traces of age and use visible on the wood, metal, and textile add to the charm of the object.

Origin: Bulgaria / Balkans
Type: Bukliya / Ploska – traditional wine or rakia flask
Estimated period: second half of the 20th century, probably around 1950–1980
Materials: carved and turned wood, brass, woven textile
Craftsmanship: handmade
Condition: very good overall condition – see detailed photographs