| The traditional Georgian applied art is mainly represented by high art items from ceramics, metal, wood, and bones. Georgia is famous for its fine jewelry, engraving on metal, armory.
The first samples of ceramic ware appeared on the territory of Georgia in the 7 th millennium BC. Later, in the 4 th —3 rd millennia BC along with ceramics emerged first metal items. The first silver objects found on the territory of Georgia are dated back the 3 rd millennium BC. In the next millennium the quantity of jewelry increased. At that time the jewelry business reached its blooming. The jewelers mastered the art of filigree, stamping, and molding to perfection.
But the art's apogee came in the 11 th — 13 th centuries.
The period of numerous conquests reflected on Georgian applied arts. It got under the influence of European, Persian, and Asian art but managed to preserve the traditional techniques and deep national content.
In the 19 th century the art of goldsmiths of Georgia reached its highest stage of development. The best samples of golden table items (cups, bowls, jugs, and kantsi-horns) and ornaments were created in Tbilisi , Akhaltsikhi, Gori, Kutaisi , Zugdidi and Telavi. All of them were richly decorated by stamping, filigree, and niello.
From ancient times Georgian craftsmen used enamels when processing precious metals. This art was greatly developed in the 9 th — 12 th centuries. Enamel, especially of plique-a-jour type, was used for decoration of both religious and secular purpose: church utensils, tableware, belts, rings, and necklaces. Even now this art has not lost its power; Georgian masters continue applying the enameling techniques.
In the 18 th – 20 th centuries there were several ceramic centers where ceramic ware and building materials (bricks, tiles) were produced.
In Eastern Georgia they were in Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Telavi, Ninotsminda, Gori, Tskhvati. In the Western Georgia — Shrosha, Kutaisi , Atsana, Namikovou and so on.
The big role in the life of Georgian people was played by glazed ceramics. The craftsmen always tried to give their products a beautiful look and refined shapes.
Georgian national art of beadwork is centuries-old. It is still used by Georgian highlanders. From the 18 th century beadwork was the most popular in Tbilisi , Gori, Kutaisi , Akhalsikhi.
The Georgian national arts and crafts are attractive in their simplicity, plasticity and unique traditional forms. |
