Georgian Pottery
5 min read
Georgian Pottery
Chariki was a traditional storage vessel used in old Georgia. It was made of clay and had a wide mouth, resembling a jug in shape. This vessel served both for transporting and storing liquids such as water and wine. According to Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani, Chariki was similar in size to a Dora (a traditional vessel). Historically, these vessels were common in the regions of Guria and Adjara, and some examples have survived to this day.
Gideli is a traditional Georgian vessel woven from twigs and flexible plant fibers. It has an elongated, wide-mouthed form with a pointed base and no handles. A hook is attached to the top so it can be hung on a tree branch.
Gideli is used during the harvest of high-growing grapevines and fruit trees for collecting the fruit, lowering it from the tree, and transporting it. In the region of Kiziki (Kakheti), a similar round, earless basket made from straw used for carrying grain is called a Gidela.
Kvevri is an egg-shaped, conical-bottomed clay vessel with a narrow neck. It has been used across Georgia since ancient times, primarily for fermenting, aging wine, but also for storing grains. Kvevri-type vessels have been known in the territory of Georgia since the Early Bronze Age. Although today Kvevri is manly associated with winemaking, there are numerous variations of Kvevri, the specific purposes of which remain unknown.
Kvevri has been granted the status of Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture and Monuments Protection of Georgia. 
Chariki was a traditional storage vessel used in old Georgia. It was made of clay and had a wide mouth, resembling a jug in shape. This vessel served both for transporting and storing liquids such as water and wine. According to Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani, Chariki was similar in size to a Dora (a traditional vessel). Historically, these vessels were common in the regions of Guria and Adjara, and some examples have survived to this day.
Gideli is a traditional Georgian vessel woven from twigs and flexible plant fibers. It has an elongated, wide-mouthed form with a pointed base and no handles. A hook is attached to the top so it can be hung on a tree branch.
Gideli is used during the harvest of high-growing grapevines and fruit trees for collecting the fruit, lowering it from the tree, and transporting it. In the region of Kiziki (Kakheti), a similar round, earless basket made from straw used for carrying grain is called a Gidela.
Kvevri is an egg-shaped, conical-bottomed clay vessel with a narrow neck. It has been used across Georgia since ancient times, primarily for fermenting, aging wine, but also for storing grains. Kvevri-type vessels have been known in the territory of Georgia since the Early Bronze Age. Although today Kvevri is manly associated with winemaking, there are numerous variations of Kvevri, the specific purposes of which remain unknown.
Kvevri has been granted the status of Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture and Monuments Protection of Georgia.
Dora is a type of unglazed clay vessel, shaped similarly to a small Kvevri or jug. It was traditionally used in Georgia to store a variety of food such as wheat, corn, beans, pickled vegetables, and different liquids.
Its shape and capacity vary, depending on the artisan’s craftsmanship and therefore, different regions of Georgia developed their own distinct styles of Dora.Megrelian Dora shaped like a small Kvevri, with a capacity ranging from 1.5 to 12 poods.Unlike Kvevri, it had a wider mouth, flat bottom and handles.It was encircled on the outside by a plain or notched clay band.
Lechkhumian Dora resembled Koka (small Kvevri) and had a capacity of about 30 liters.It had a banded mouth, tall neck, sloping shoulders, wide belly that tapered toward the base, handles, and a flat bottom. It was usually decorated with geometric and plant ornaments.
A smaller version, called Doraki (“small Dora”), held about 15 liters and had a rimmed mouth.A typical Dora was half the size of Koka, with a capacity of approximately 15–18 liters.Dora is attested in Georgian written sources from the 16th century.
Gobi is a large wooden vessel, either carved from a single piece of wood or assembled from multiple parts. It is traditionally used for kneading dough, storing food supplies, and other household purposes.
Gobi is made from dry and clean wood (such as linden or elm), which do not crack or give flavor to food during use. The craft of making Gobi was widespread in Kartli, Imereti and Samegrelo regions. Georgian National Museum maintains a rich collection of Gobi of various sizes and purposes. 
Tiki (Wineskin) - old Georgian wine vessel made from bubalus, goat or bull leather. In order to get rid of losing the liquid, it's isolated with the resin from inside. It was made of various sizes - little size, table size and for transporting.It was necessary to use a hando holder, to make it easier to use or move.
Despite the fact that the tail was light and easy to use, at the end of the 19th century it was replaced by wooden barrels, as the tail wines could only storaged in wineskin for a week. The wine in the tail should be used very soon, because in other case it would become a vinegar.
In old days, Vartsli was used to prepare dough. The tableware was made from solid wood, had a long, deep shape with both ends pointing upwards. Sometimes it was cut from a whole tree log, and sometimes binded with wooden slices.
The tableware had its own cap – Oromi, which also served as a big plate. They were putting dough on Oromi and bringing it to the bakery.
In the old Georgian houses and dining rooms, Vartsli was placed near the main pillar of the house, on a shelf. Placing it on this honorable place was highlighting it’s meaning and value.Huge sized Vartsli was also used as a storing place.In Kiziki the people who were creating Vartsli were called Mevartsle. 
Kula is a traditional wine-drinking vessel crafted from wood. The best materials for making a Kula were zelkova, boxwood, yew tree and walnut.
Kula has a massive, oval-shaped body and a long neck. Near the neck, it has a small horn used to hook a finger while drinking. Wine pours out with a burbling sound. Kulas were often decorated with silver elements and precious stones.
Some Kulas were made from bitter gourds, with a wooden partition inserted in the neck to regulate the flow of wine and prolong the process of drinking. These gourd Kulas were often inscribed with texts and decorated with ornaments, and sometimes inlaid with stones (e.g. gagate).
The term Kula also refers to a rectangular stone column found in the homes of the Mokheve (a highland ethnic group), serving the role of a central support pillar (“dedabodzi”).
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