Ethnographic and organoleptic study of traditional leather products in the Adjara region in Georgia

Abstract

The present article examines the ethnographic and organoleptic aspects of traditional leather processing and utilization in the Adjara region of Georgia. The study is based on historical written sources, ethnographic descriptions, and the analysis of museum exhibits preserved in the museums of Batumi, Kobuleti, and the Khariton Akhvlediani Ethnographic Museum. Particular attention is paid to locally used types of raw leather, traditional tanning and finishing techniques, and the application of leather in footwear, household items, agricultural equipment, and musical instruments. Through organoleptic evaluation, the physical, aesthetic, and functional properties of natural leather found in museum artifacts were assessed, as well as the effects of long-term aging and material degradation. The research highlights the cultural and technological significance of traditional leatherworking in Adjara and its contribution to the preservation of regional material heritage. The research also confirms that leather products in Adjara served not only practical purposes but also possessed significant cultural and ethnographic value.