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
The Untold Story of Martin the Armenian, America’s First Armenian Immigrant
Martin the Armenian holds a significant place in history as the first recorded Armenian to settle in what is now the United States. Arriving in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1618, Martin was part of the early wave of settlers in the
Petros Baronyan or al-Barun al-Mukhtari: The Armenian Visionary Behind the Ottoman Qibla Indicator
Petros Baronyan, also known by his Arabic title al-Barun al-Mukhtari, was an 18th-century Armenian inventor and dragoman (interpreter) who served the Dutch embassy in Istanbul. In 1738, he created a notable Qibla indicator, known as the Qibla-numā-yi āfaqi, to assist
Armenian Feminist Voices: The Contributions of Srpouhi Dussap, Hayganush Mark, Marie Beyleryan, and Zaruhi Kalemkaryan
Srpouhi Dussap (1840–1901) stands as a pioneering figure in Armenian literature, not only for her literary contributions but also for her role in championing the cause of women’s rights and education. Born in Constantinople in the Ortakoy district, she was
The Armenian Parkapzuk Bagpipe: Tradition and Sound in a Timeless Instrument
The Armenian Parkapzuk (Պարկապզուկ), a variant of the bagpipe, boasts a rich and ancient history, with its origins tracing back to around 1300 BC in the territory of Western Armenia. This wind instrument, deeply ingrained in Armenian musical heritage, consists
