Armenian female artist who modelled for Matisse
The Armenian female artist Vava Khatchadourian was born on February 12, 1895, in Trebizond, Ottoman Empire, and spent most of her childhood in Batumi. Prior to pursuing an artistic career, Khatchadourian lived in Vienna and Paris, where she modeled for the famous French painter Henri Matisse and others. In 1920, she married famed Armenian painter and muralist Sarkis Khatchadourian in Tiflis. After extensive travels worldwide, including several years living in India and Iran, Vava and Sarkis settled in New York to begin a new life in 1941. She started painting in 1945. Her works can be found at the National Gallery
The rare Armenian silver filigree, enamel, and gilt: a box set with emeralds, pearls, and garnets
This fine, domed chest is of Armenian origin and most probably served a religious purpose – possibly it was used to hold incense. It is of a gilded silver sheet that has then been covered with an outer layer of silver filigree to which champleve enameled silver floral plaques have been applied. This rich decoration has been further embellished with the addition of Baroque pearls and square emeralds and round garnet cabochons all in high box settings.The silver filigree is arrayed on all sides in a floral cruciform pattern, with leaves enameled finely in green, and flowers enameled in delicate
Ninety exquisite Persian tapestries and handicrafts displayed in Guangzhou
The Guangzhou Museum of Art unveiled an exhibit of Persian art, showcasing over 90 pieces of exquisite carpets, rugs, tapestries, decorative art samples and other handicrafts.
The cross-cultural function and aesthetisicm of Chinese foldable screens
The Chinese folding screens made their way to Europe as early as the 17th century, being popular in Europe ever since, and being considered artifacts of exotic or Oriental culture.Records show that around 1700, the British East India Company imported three shiploads of cargo from the southern port city of Guangzhou, including lacquer screens, cabinets, and beds.Moreover, the English writer William Somerset Maugham wrote on one of the Chinese screens, describing his travel life in China, first published in 1922.It’s worth mentioning that Madame de Pompadour, the beloved mistress of King Louise XV of France, used to collect the screens
The early-20th-century rare photography of Mush Armenians taken by a Norwegian nurse
The rare photography showcases Armenian national costume and traditional Armenian dances harmoniously intertwined. The silverware accessories, elaborate headgears, richly-embroidered aprons of women, and vests with the furry shoulders, turban-shaped headdresses, sashes, and wide-leg pants of the men from the united ensemble of Armenian cultural heritage.The photography is considered noteworthy also from the perspective of revealing the curiosity of foreigners towards Armenian culture; it was taken by a Norwegian missionary nurse Bodil Biørn (1871-1960) during the celebration or the feast at Surb Karapet Monastery (4th century, Mush), that was demolished in the year 1915, as a consequence of the Armenian Genocide.Biørn
