12 Handwritten Books – Modern Georgian Manuscripts

Levan Chaganava became interested in Georgian calligraphy in 1989. At that time, this art had been forgotten in Georgia for about two hundred years, and there were no books or small educational materials.

As he studied reproductions of ancient manuscripts and improved his handwriting, he realized that calligraphy had evolved along with the art of handwritten books.

Levan began making his own manuscripts and soon completed three books using different binding techniques.

The Foundational Trilogy (1990–1992)

After a two-century hiatus, Levan Chaganava’s three illuminated manuscripts from 1990 to 1992 marked the beginning of the revival of the Georgian calligraphy tradition.

These early books were born in a time of national awakening, spiritual rediscovery, and later — open crisis. The third one was created in January 1992, amid the chaos of armed clashes in Tbilisi, power outages, and food shortages. It became a quiet act of cultural and spiritual resistance.

Later Works and Exhibition Potential

Later books (2009–2014) expanded the revival. Some remained unbound to allow individual pages to be framed for exhibitions. Others exist in variant handmade copies with original cover artwork.

All twelve manuscripts are unique cultural artifacts. They bridge medieval Georgian literary and spiritual heritage with contemporary artistic expression.

We welcome serious exhibition proposals and inquiries for acquisition or long-term placement.