A self-taught master followed his dreams and for one and a half years he transformed into works of art the images that filled his imagination and made him compete with his fastest enemy-time. One day he left this word while he was enjoying his own masterpiece.

Marin Petkov spent his entire life in his native village of Malak Porovets near the town of Isperih (North East Bulgaria). He worked as a supplier and often travelled to the Sub-Balkan region which captivated him with the beauty of the Bulgarian houses from the national revival period. The skills of the wood-carvers whose works adorn the old houses ignited a flame in Marin’s soul which was burning until his last days.  That is why in the past 16 years of his life he thanked God for the skills he had given him and with the help of the wooden materials, he turned his house into a true masterpiece as a sign of respect to the art of the masters of the national revival period.

Marin was just an ordinary person who lived in a small and beautiful village throughout his entire life, the host of the carved house, Elena Simeonova told Radio Bulgaria. However, he was a very skillful person with huge imagination and heart who bowed to the art of the great woodcarvers of the national revival period. Hismaster’s certificate issued in 1943 is displayed at the Carved House. Marin Petkov used to make furniture as well. As for carving, however, Marin was a self-taught master. He liked to read a lot and did not have a high self-confidence. He was learning this craft for many years. That is why nothing in his carved house was made accidentally and everything is a result of perfect logic and discipline.

Master Marin decorated with processed wood the whole furniture, moldings, ceilings and porches in his house.  He placed a model of the Shipka Monument on the outside of his windows. Moreover, Marin wrote “The house is open to all visitors” on the front gate, because he left his woodcarving works as a heritage and wanted the people to enjoy his art. He also left them a legacy with the copy of the Wheel of Life scene by Zahari Zograf.

This work of art hides the message of the master- I know this from the moment I saw it for the first time in the house yard, Elena Simeonova went on to say. He wanted to tell us that at the end of our life when we turn back we realize that the things we leave to the future generations is what matters the most.

Master Marin decorates the family altar with wood-carved icons and wonderful altar doors. With the Nativity of Christ and the amazing wooden copy of the Last Supper by Leonardo the master tells us about the beginning and the end of the life of our Savior on Earth. Marin Petkov created several thematic rooms as well. He put a large table, built-in cupboard, chimney and of course the royal throne in the Throne Room. He got the inspiration to make this throne from the Golden Age movie about Tsar Simeon the Great. He depicted on the whole ceiling of the sword room the Order for Bravery, thus bowing to the heroism of the Bulgarian soldiers. The master placed the Twelve Apostles in the White Room.

Marin Petkov was preparing to make the Arab Room for nearly two years before he began decorating it, the host of the carved house Elena Simeonova further says. Of course, everything is made in the spirit of the national revival period. Yet, the pattern of the wood in this room is different, the molding is also different and the ceiling was made of the typical Arab decoration. Master Marin used four types of wood with the color of the most popular material in the Arab world- dark mahogany. 

Marin Petkov finished his deed in the end of the 20^th and the beginning of the 21^st century and left this world soon after. People say that the whole soul of a man is in what he does, Elena Simeonova adds. We can feel the soul of Master Marin in his carved house, because he put a piece of it in every detail.

Photos: The Carved House