Vasil Bojkov is a man of different qualities. Some people respect him as the businessman he is. Others see him as the art and culture-lover responsible for collecting over 3,000 antique pieces or as the person who has a private collection of paintings and statues by famous artists. Then, there are those who acknowledge him for being one of the greatest patriots in Bulgaria who values and preserves treasures that belong to the country.
Yet, despite the fact that he has got pretty much everything, he has never really forgotten to give something back.
On a number of occasions, Vasil Bojkov has given a chance to many different people from Bulgaria and abroad to take a look at his ancient treasures. One of the most recent events is The Golden Fleece. Quest of the Argonauts exhibition in which beautifully crafted artefacts, stories, myths, and heroes from the past came to life in the present. The exhibition took place at the National Art Gallery from 16th of March until 10th of June and became so popular that it attracted more than 40,000 visitors from 45 different countries.
What is more, he has decided to build a home for his unique collection of Thracian Treasures and antiques right in the heart of the Bulgarian capital city Sofia. Ever since May 2017, the media bombarded the Internet with news about Bojkov officially becoming the owner of the Telephone hall – a symbolic building that he wants to transform into a unique museum.
This is going to be the first private museum of this scale that will laid the groundwork for a completely new type of cultural and artistic experience. With the aim to turn into an internationally recognized destination for historians, fans of culture, and even other antique collectors from abroad, Vasil Bojkov’s museum-to-be will offer its own interpretation of the great Thracian time.
Visitors will be guided through a unique exhibition design and compositions that become crossroads of culture, civilization, and art. Things that at first glance seem to be far separated by geography, traditions, and time, but are in fact so connected and pivotal. Truly, the project can only be compared to the spectacular Louvre in Abu Dhabi, considered to be “a sanctuary for the most valuable works of art.”
Among the pieces that comprise Vasil Bojkov Collection are ancient silver and golden horns, vases, different types of drinking cups, world-famous rhytons, usually in the shape of an animal’s head. There is also a good number of metal ware. Some of the most renowned examples are those that have representations of well-known Greek heroes, Theseus and Helen, famous Gods, and other antique notable figures, scenes, or events. There are works from different epochs and places. Some of the vessels are from the pre-Achaemenid period from the Middle and Near East and Anatolia.
Others represent the Lydian toreutic school and derive from the Achaemenid time period. Artefacts that represent major centers such as Laconia, Corinth, Ionia, and others are also present and date back to the Archaic period.