Avanos Pottery

Avanos Çömleği is a traditional craft product produced in the district of Avanos, within the province of Nevşehir in Türkiye. Its historical origins extend back to the Neolithic Age. On 25 December 2017, it was officially registered by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office as a “Geographical Indication” and is protected under Law No. 6769 on Industrial Property.

Avanos Çömleği is a term used for ceramic products made from local clay extracted in the Avanos district. The raw material is natural soil obtained from the ancient beds of the Kızılırmak River and surrounding hills. This soil is rich in the mineral hematite, which gives the pottery its characteristic red and light yellow color range.

Avanos clay contains illite/mica, quartz, feldspar, calcite, dolomite and hematite minerals. Compared to clays from other regions, the higher hematite content ensures the distinctive red tones of Avanos pottery. The fundamental distinction of Avanos pottery lies in this mineral composition and the use of raw materials sourced from the region’s natural deposits.

^{Avanos Çömleği} (Avanos Kaynakamlığı)

Pottery production begins with bringing soils of different colors and textures to workshops. The clay undergoes processes of mixing, crushing, sieving, kneading with water and resting to achieve a workable consistency. This process is locally known as “çamur çıkartmak”.

The clay is kneaded on traditional potter’s wheels, called “çıkrık”, which are turned by foot. Various molds such as base molds, flat molds and ulak molds are used to produce different items.

^{Avanos Çömleğinin Şekillendirilmesi} (Avanos Kaynakamlığı)

Once the shaped pottery reaches leather-hard consistency, it undergoes burnishing (coating) and polishing. These finishing steps are completed before the drying process begins.

Firing is carried out in traditional two-compartment kilns, where the chamber holding the pottery, called “kayacak”, is separate from the fire chamber, called “ocak”. The firing temperature ranges between 750–950 °C. Kilns are typically heated using fuels such as wood, sawdust and straw. Their sizes vary according to capacity and are traditionally constructed in cylindrical forms.

Pottery production in the Avanos region dates back to the Neolithic Age. Pottery fragments have been unearthed during excavations at the Avanos Topaklı Höyük site, spanning from the Bronze Age to the Byzantine period. During the Ottoman and Republican eras, caravans originating from Avanos transported pottery as far as Adana, where products were commonly traded through barter.

This heritage has transformed Avanos Çömleği into more than just a product—it has become a regional production tradition.

^{Avanos Çömleği} (Avanos Kaynakamlığı)

The geographical boundary is limited to the district of Avanos within the province of Nevşehir. Oversight is conducted by a commission composed of one representative each from the Nevşehir Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, the Avanos Chamber of Tradespeople and Artisans, and Hacı Bektaş Veli University in Nevşehir. Inspections are carried out at least once a year, with additional inspections conducted as needed. During inspections, the source of raw materials, production steps and marketing processes are verified.