Inscribed Surfaces, Layered Identities: Hidden Armenian Histories in Non-Armenian Metalwork
Objects in the history of art frequently carry more than one cultural identity, since a single surface can accumulate successive layers of making, ownership, dedication, and reuse, each introduced at a different moment and by a different hand. The Qianlong
An Armenian Silver Votive Object: Incense, Memory, and Craft in Kayseri
The Walters incense burner (accession number 57.1845), executed in silver in 1791 in Kayseri (Caesarea), embodies the formal and epigraphic conventions of Armenian liturgical metalwork. The object is conceived as a miniature domed church, its interior partitioned into three compartments
Armenian Presence in the Production and Circulation of Ship-Decorated Early Modern Ceramics and Textiles
by Ani Margaryan The depiction of sailing vessels on a diverse corpus of objects d’art—from Iznik and Kütahya ceramics produced in Asia Minor to Chinese export porcelains manufactured in Jingdezhen for international markets—serves as more than a decorative motif. The ship
A Pair of Armenian-Inscribed Rare Gloves: Stitching History, Family, Tradition, and Loss
By Ani Margaryan Within the collection of the History Museum of Armenia resides a pair of cataloged wool gloves, designated E-No. 1303 and attributed to the late nineteenth century, with an unknown place of origin. The artifact's primary historical link is
Pertchanush Msryan: Armenia’s Honored Female Architect
In the male-dominated professional landscape of the Soviet Union, where few women rose to leadership in architecture and urban planning, Pertchanush Msryan carved a legacy of concrete and green space that shaped modern Armenia. An honored builder and respected educator,
Mari Gerekmezyan: The Legacy of a Pioneering Armenian Female Sculptor in Turkey
Mari Gerekmezyan (Մարի Կերեքմէզեան; 1913–1947) is recognized as one of the first female sculptors in Turkey and the first of Armenian descent. A student of Rudolf Belling at the Istanbul Fine Arts Academy, Gerekmezyan produced sculpted busts of prominent Turkish
A Masterful Armenian-Amira Sabre: Catalogued as Ottoman in High-Value Sale
In December 2024, a remarkable sword bearing an Armenian inscription achieved a record price of $25,000 at Tremont Auction, where it was cataloged as an Ottoman-period weapon. This exceptional piece features a watered steel blade with gold inlay, a jade
An Armenian Bridal Trousseau of Exceptional Artistry: Uncovering a 19th-Century Textile Treasure at the British Museum
Originally catalogued in 1934 as dolls' clothing, this extraordinary collection was later recognized as a complete 19th-century Armenian bridal trousseau—an exceptionally rare and well-preserved example of wedding traditions, textile artistry, and ornamental design from Armenian diasporic communities. Comprising 87 miniature
Whimsical Marginalia in a 17th-Century Armenian Manuscript: Reassessing Child Authorship Through Artistic Tradition
The Wellcome Collection—a London-based museum and library that explores health and human experience through its holdings of rare books and artworks—recently featured marginal drawings from MS Armenian 15, a 17th-century Armenian book of sermons, tentatively attributing them to children. This
Armenian Attire in Porcelain: Figurines as Cultural Narratives
The Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, located in New York City, serves as the United States’ national museum of design. It operates under the Smithsonian Institution and is housed in the Andrew Carnegie Mansion on Fifth Avenue. Founded in 1897
