MADE FOR CATHOLICOS GHOUKAS KARNETSI, OTTOMAN TURKEY, SECOND HALF 18TH CENTURY

This bowl and saucer (lot 198) bears the monogram of Catholicos Luke I, also known as Ghoukas I Karnesi from Karin, Turkey. Luke I became Catholicos (head of the Armenian Church) in 1780, and his mandate ended with his death in 1799. Under his catholicate fine metalwork bearing his monogram was produced. A similar bowl to ours – lacking saucer and not enamelled - was offered at Bonham’s, 10th April 2008, lot 244. During the 18th century the patriarch’s influence in the Ottoman court increased. Stamatios Chondrogiannis writes “many of the finest works of Armenian patronage date from the 18th century … this may be a reflection on the nature of this widening wealth structure amongst the Armenian community” (Stamatios Chondrogiannis (ed.), The Kalfayan Collection, Geneva 2015, p.40). Both our Armenian bowl and saucer and the incense burner (lot 199) are finely enamelled in cobalt-blue, light blue and green with what appears to be similar technique and chemical consistency of the enamel. Although these were objects produced for a different audiences, the style of enamelling is closely related and re-enforces the link between the Ottoman and Armenian metalwork production of the 18th century.
We would like to thank George Manginis for assistance in cataloguing lot 198.