“Strajite” (“The Guards”), sgraffito at a panoramic square on “Stefan Stambolov” St.

    1. Register Number: 3

    2. Address: “Stefan Stambolov” St., “Varusha – North” Residential District, Veliko Tarnovo 5000

    3. Coordinates:

      43.084321, 25.638475

    4. Artist/Architect: Grigor Spyridonov

    5. Type of Site: Monumental decoration

    6. Name: “Strajite” (“The Guards”), sgraffito at a panoramic square on “Stefan Stambolov” St.

    7. Other Names for the Monument: 

    8. Technique: Sgraffito

    9. Materials Used: 

    10. Dating: 1974

    11. Monument Ownership: 

    12. Document Types:

    13. Cadastral Map Identifier:

    14. Regulation Plan Number :

    15. Affiliation to Other Cultural Monuments or Assemblages:

    16. Dimensions of the Monument (measurements): 

    17. Description – Analysis of the Type, Style & Iconography :
      This work is one of two sgraffiti located on either side of Stefan Stambolov Street’s panoramic square. It has a figural composition made up of three colours: black, red and white. There is a signature and date on the shield of the horseman on the right. After the conservation in 2019, the sgraffito appears completely redone, with modern materials and different colours. The difference in colors before and after the restoration is evident both on an archival picture from 2009 and from a small section on the left horse’s leg.

    18. Signature/Artist’s Initials: 

    19. Condition:
      The work is in a stable state of preservation. There is some water damage, but it is unclear if it is coming from the building or from the roof. The finising layer is missing in some spots and there is one deep gap that reaches the bedding layer.

    20. Conservation / Restoration: 

    21. Preservation Regimes according to Bulgaria’s Cultural Heritage Act:
      In order to preserve this work, it is necessary to: address the cause of the water damage; stabilize and strengthen the plaster layers; retouch the gaps; and reintegrate the discoloured retouched spots. In order to better present this work to the public, it is necessary to: provide for its regular maintanance and security; install lights for illumination; and add a plaque with the artist, title and year.

    22. Plans and Documentation Relating to Implementation: 

    23. Connection with the Environment: Favourable

    24. Primary Function of the Building: 

    25. Current Function of the Building: 

    26. Access: Public

    27. Observation Access: Unlimited

    28. Correspondence Between Initial Project Plan & Implementation:

    29. Comments/Other: