Lot 207
207
AN ARMENIAN PARCEL-GILT SILVER CHALICE
AN ARMENIAN PARCEL-GILT SILVER CHALICE

OTTOMAN ANATOLIA, DATED 1177 IN THE GREAT ARMENIAN ERA/1728 AD

Details
AN ARMENIAN PARCEL-GILT SILVER CHALICE
OTTOMAN ANATOLIA, DATED 1177 IN THE GREAT ARMENIAN ERA/1728 AD
Rising from a high faceted trumpet foot on a lobed base, tapering to a thin neck with three pronounced bosses and terminating in a rounded cup, the edge of the cup with bands of silver wire, the interior gilded and the exterior with engraved gilded cusped medallions containing floral sprays of tulips and carnations, the central boss with a gilded band of engraved scrolling floral vine, stylised gilded cypress trees on each facet of the foot, with an Armenian inscription and date around the base of the foot
8¾in. (22.4cm.) high
Engraved
Inscribed in Armenian, Skis yishatak e mghdsi Mirzin ew [v]ordoyn Atomin Martirosin Yakobin or et i dourn Medsopay Sourb Astouadsadsnin tvin RCHE te kami dsakhin anedsk Kayeni arne,

'[The] Chalice is in memory of mahdesi Mirzin and his son Atom, Martiros [and] Yakob which was laid at the door of the [church] of Holy Virgin Mary [Theotokos] in Medsopay in the year 1177, he who dares to sell will be subject to the curse of Cain [Genesis 4:vv.11-12].'The dating in the Great Armenian era is 1177 with the differential of 551 = 1728 AD.

Brought to you by

Andrew Butler-Wheelhouse
Andrew Butler-Wheelhouse
+44 (0)20 7389 2372

Lot Essay

Medsobk' is situated near the western shore of lake Van. The Holy Church of the Virgin Mary was located within the walls of the Monastery of Medsopa which was built in 1120 AD, restored in 1402-1409 and represents a significant religious and cultural centre. A closely related chalice with similar Ottoman-inspired engraved medallions containing tulips dated to the equivalent of 1741 is in the Kalfayan Collection, (Aspects of Armenian Art: The Kalfayan Collection, exhibition catalogue, Athens 2010, pl.64).

More from Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including A Private Collection Donated to Benefit The University of Oxford, Part V

View All
View All