Cretan pottery was organized in a unique way:
There were four potters’ villages, one in each prefecture of the island. Individual potters were the exception. Small groups of five or six craftsmen set out every spring from two of these villages, Thrapsano and Margarites. They would choose a suitable location in the Cretan countryside to stay throughout the summer, where they would make all types of pottery, from large pithoi to small cups. In autumn they returned home. This practice was necessary due to the lack of even roads and the risks of transporting pottery long distances by mule or donkey.
Cretan potters are highly skilled craftsmen and create a wide variety of pottery for every use, just as their ancient ancestors did. Several shapes have remained unchanged for at least 4,000 years. Nowadays traditional potters are found only in the two villages mentioned above.
Below is a brief list of Cretan pottery types:
Storage vessels
Various types of large pithoi (storage jars) for oil, wine, honey and grain. Smaller pithoi and kouroupia (small pots) are used for olives, pickles, cheese, smoked meat, salt etc.
Water jars
Jars for transporting water from the spring or well to the house have different shapes in five districts of Crete, all derived from ancient forms. The same is true of water bottles, which may reach a diameter of 40-50 cm.
Food preparation vessels
Various basins and mortars are used for kneading dough, preparing meat and vegetables etc.
Cooking pots
Cooking pots are identical in all respects except size.
Tableware
This includes all plates, cups, jugs, oil flasks etc.
Raki stills
The high cost of copper stills for rural farmers meant that potters were required to provide pottery equipment.
Olive press vessels
Special volumetric vessels for separating olive oil from the sediment.
Farming vessels
These include beehives, feeding troughs for beasts of burden, poultry and rabbits, etc.
Washing vessels
Rural homes had no bathrooms. People washed themselves and their clothes in large basins and deep bowls, as well as water bottles with a tap attached.
Weaving vessels
These are tall cylindrical pots with small handles, used for dyeing wool.
Ducts
Various types of drain and chimney pot.
Building pottery
Bricks, tiles etc.
Ritual vessels
Various types of font and censer.
Flowerpots
Flowerpots in a variety of shapes with small handles and wavy rims.
Toys
Whistles, trick pots full of water that wet the unsuspecting user.
Over 90 different types of pot are used in rural Crete.
Exhibits also include a typical wooden potter’s wheel, a small wheel for throwing pots and photographs of kilns.
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