1260° – How Christmas Endured  in Georgia

ნონა ოთარაშვილი და რუსკა შაშიაშვილი

From 18 December 2025, the State Silk Museum hosts the collaborative project by Nona Otarashvili and Ruska Shashiashvili, “1260° – How Christmas Endured  in Georgia.”

The traveling exhibition was first presented in November 2025 at the gallery KUNSTHANDLUNG BOLLHORST in Freiburg, followed by a showing on 12 December at the State Museum of Ceramics in Staufen. From 18 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, the exhibition will be held in Tbilisi at the State Silk Museum as a special pre-holiday event.

The traveling exhibition and the project are supported by the Embassy of Germany and the Municipality of Freiburg.

Statement by the author Nona Otarashvili

The 1990s were a time of sharp transformations and social crises in Georgia. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, old structures collapsed, and the creation of a new state system was associated with great difficulties.

It was a time of dark, lightless nights. We spent most of our time in endless lines for oil and bread. The winter supplies stored in the basements - homemade preserves became the magical treasures of families. Because of this, basement robberies became more frequent.

One day, when I went to the basement, I found that my grandmother’s Christmas tree toys were no longer there. The numerous collection of glass figurines wrapped in cotton fabric and thin paper, which was placed in a large, old tin box, had disappeared. This box also contained many memories of my childhood.

The Soviet regime declared war on religion, demolished churches, exiled priests, and banned Christian holidays, including Christmas. The Christmas tree also disappeared from public spaces.

In 1935, after a ban of several years, the Christmas tree returned with a new meaning and name - the "New Year's Tree". In it, religious elements were replaced by ideological and cultural symbols of the new time, pioneers, tractors, rockets, soldiers or collective farmers instead of angels and biblical characters. The Star of Bethlehem on the top of the tree was replaced by the red Kremlin star - the ideological symbol of Soviet domination.

The works presented at the exhibition are made of high-quality white porcelain, fired at 1260 degrees and partially gilded. Each work is unique. The project also presents photographs from state and private archives.

Important Information

Opening - 18.12.2025

The exhibition can be viewed on the opening day, 18 December, from 19:00 to 22:00. 

Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase unique handmade ceramic Christmas ornaments, which, after the opening, will also be available for sale at the museum shop throughout the duration of the exhibition.

Attendance at the opening event is free of charge.

Workshop - 19.12.2025

On 19 December, from 15:00 to 17:00, a pre-holiday clay souvenir workshop will be held in the museum’s studio, led by Nona Otarashvili.

The participation fee for the workshop is 20 GEL. (registered participants can pay on-site during the workshop day)

 Participants will be able to pick up their finished, fired souvenirs on 25–27 December.

Please note that the number of workshop places is limited, and advance registration is required.

Registration link: