Armenians celebrate Christmas on the 6th of January
Armenian Christmas is celebrated annually on January 6. This holiday has been a part of Armenian traditions for more than 1700 years and has been celebrated similarly since its inception.Unlike Catholics, Armenians celebrate the Epiphany of Christ, which is the
What kind of crown did princes of the Ming Dynasty wear?
What kind of crown did princes of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) wear? The nine-string mian (crown) provides some clues.As the most important ritual crown in the Ming Dynasty clothing system, the "mian" is woven from cane with black paint and
One of the oldest geocentric solar system models discovered in Armenia
In the 1950s, archaeologists discovered the unique bronze model of the solar system dated back 12-11th centuries BCE in the Sevan basin in Armenia. This is one of the oldest geocentric solar system models preserved nowadays. The artifact is currently
The rare Tang dynasty ceramic drum
This black-glazed ceramic waist drum with azure-glaze decor, an example of Lushan ware from the Tang Dynasty, unveils what the Tang dynasty (618-907) musical instruments look like.This type of drum, introduced from Central Asia to China, was initially made of
The Chinese reverse glass diptych of the mother and her child: the West meets the East
"Sotheby's" has recently represented a Chinese reverse glass painting - a diptych entitled “ A mother and a child” (reverse glass painting diptych, China for the European market, Qing dynasty, 18th century). The right wing represents the mother-and-a-child theme through
Lai Afong – one of the most prolific Chinese photographers of his era
Lai Afong (黎芳 or 賴阿芳, c. 1838 or 1839 – 1890) is considered to be a pre-eminent nineteenth-century Chinese photographer and the founder of the most successful photographic studio in the late Qing Dynasty.Lai Afong's subjects ranged from portraits and
The Armenian vordan karmir – sought-after crimson carmine pigment
The Armenian cochineal (Porphyrophora hamelii), also known as the Ararat cochineal or Ararat scale, is a scale insect indigenous to the Ararat plain and Araks River valley in the Armenian Highlands. It was formerly used to produce an eponymous crimson
The Mexican chocolate jar inspired by Chinese porcelain
The chocolate jar, made in Mexico and housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, resembles Chinese blue-and-white porcelain samples. Called "Talavera poblana," this style of tin-glazed earthenware has been made in the central Mexican town of Puebla since the 16th
Shaping the image of Mother Armenia: Mher Abeghian
The People's Artist of Armenian SSR Mher Abeghian (1909-1994) was born in Vagharshapat, nowadays Etchmiadzin. He received his artistic education in Yerevan, Moscow, and Leningrad. Abeghian expressed his emotions, thoughts, and ideas in the landscape, portraiture, still life, and genre art
The cultural gem of the Silk Road: Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, China
Carved into the cliffs above the Dachuan River, the Mogao Caves southeast of the Dunhuang oasis, Gansu Province, comprise the largest, most richly endowed, and most extended used treasure house of Buddhist art in the world.Four hundred ninety-two caves are
