Tableware

Kiases (dish). A type of dish found across Crete. Also called a tsanaki in Thrapsano. Glazing gradually ceased from the 18th century onwards. The vessel is burnished before firing by rubbing with a pebble from the beach.

Pinakio (plate). This is the medieval Byzantine name for a type of plate similar to the kiases, but glazed inside and out with a cylindrical base. Glazed pinakia are coloured with geometric patterns from the 14th century onwards. During the Turkish occupation they become monochrome, usually green, such as this 18th-century example.

Tasi (cup). Small wine or water cup with a single handle.

Galeti (basket jar). A vessel with an open mouth and semicircular handle for carrying food to the fields or milk (gala) from domestic goats. It is also called a galatia, galaftia, galeta or mandrolekanida.

Kounenidi (Collar-necked jar). Vessel for taking food to the fields for farm workers. The name, meaning “swayer”, is said to be derived from the way it sways back and forth when tied to the saddle. It is also called a kastania, galaktidi, vournidi or brekatsaki.

Laini (jug). A Thrapsano-type jug with toothed-wheel decoration. It is also called a kryostamni or stamni. It is made from a type of porous clay, so when the jar is full of water it condenses on the inside and evaporates, cooling the contents.