Handvats

Handvats are a fictional class of palm-sized ceramic fermentation vessels associated with the Handvar culture in several fantasy works. They are designed for home-scale fermentation and storage of beverages, syrups, and preserves. Typically made from stoneware or glazed clay, handvats have a narrow spout or lip and a fitted lid to seal fermentation gases. Capacities range from roughly half a liter to two liters.

The design emphasizes portability, often incorporating a leather or cord handle or a rounded bottom to reduce tipping. Interiors are glazed to resist acidity; some variants include a vented stopper to allow gas escape during fermentation while limiting air entry.

Historically, handvats are described as an ancient technology, dating to early Handvar settlements and widely used by travelers and small households. In Handvar culture they are commonly used for fermenting fruit wines, honey mead, or vegetable brines, and are sometimes decorated with symbolic motifs.

In modern fiction, handvats appear as collectible artefacts, ritual items, or practical tools for apothecaries and vintners in Handvar-inspired cities. They are often depicted as durable, heirloom items passed down through generations.

Related topics include vats, fermentation, ceramics, and Handvar culture.