In this video, Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian shares a painting by an unknown artist which depicts a scene from Easter. In the Armenian Church there are five great feast days (Daghavars). They are Christmas, Easter, Vartavar, Assumption of Saint Mary, and Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The week preceding each Daghavar is a week of fasting, except for Easter which has its own seven week fast (lent). The day after Easter is called merelotz, which is a solemn day for remembrance.
3-in-1 Wedding Band
We have a unique family heirloom from 1887 that was donated by author, actress, and former TV news anchor Cathy Burnham Martin. The ring belonged to her grandmother and is also part of her new historical fiction trilogy. Made by an Armenian jeweler, two adjoining hands meet in the middle to embrace a gold heart that opens up to three separate rings.
Dance the Bijo with Us
Dance is a vital part of Armenian culture, and its preservation is important to us here at the Museum. In this video, Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian takes us step-by-step to learn one variation of the popular Bijo dance that originated in Sebastia.
While this video is not about an artifact in our collection, many people know that Gary’s talent and passion is in preserving and teaching Armenian folk dance, so it is not forgotten. Gary demonstrates this high energy dance, which was adapted as Sebastatsis immigrated to communities like Springfield and Providence in the aftermath of the Genocide.
Bathtub Gin
During the prohibition era (1920-1933), many households in the U.S. distilled their own alcohol. "Bathtub gin" refers to any style of homemade spirit made in amateur conditions. The copper still in this video was made by Mihran Aljian and it was shared amongst many Dikranagertsi households in New Jersey. Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian explains how this unusual device was used.
A Replica of a 15th Century Khachkar
A khachkar, or Armenian cross-stone, is a carved memorial that often has additional motifs such as the tree of life and eternity symbol. The artifact in this video is one of two replicas. The original 15th century khachkar was gifted by the late Catholicos Vazgen I to St. Vartan’s Cathedral in New York. Before it was installed, a casting was made for two exact replicas, one of which is on display at the Museum of Natural History in New York and the other was donated to our collection.
Cabinet of Curiosities from the Holy Land
In the late 1800’s, many Armenian families were on the move to the United States in search of a more stable life. They immigrated with skills that benefited America in many industries. Paul Iskiyan was a Protestant missionary that applied his entrepreneurial spirit in several areas. One was the sale of madzoon, while another is a “cabinet of curiosities” from the Holy Land that functioned as a small museum in its own right.
A Vintage Christmas Tree
Christmas trees became popular in the 16th century when people would bring decorated trees into their homes to resemble the winter solstice. In this video, Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian tells us about a visit from Hayk Demoyan, one of our esteemed Academic Advisors. Dr. Demoyan suggested adding artifacts from Soviet Armenia to our collection, so we acquired several items including this vintage Christmas tree from the 1960s.
Armenian Recipe Books
Sharing food is hugely important to Armenian culture and it’s a great time of the year as we celebrate Thanksgiving. We have a collection of recipe books in our Mesrob G. Boyajian Library dating back to 1907! Cookbooks published in the 1900’s consisted of simple recipes with locally sourced ingredients. Some books published later highlight plants and folklore associated with Armenian recipes. In this video, Gary-Lind Sinanian gives us a peek into recipe books that can suit any kind of appetite. A few of them are even available in our Gift Shop.
Adorned Bridal Tradition
Did you know that it was customary for the woman who had the most children to place a belt on the bride prior to her wedding ceremony? The hope was that the bride would also have many children. The groom's family would present a silver belt asking for the bride's hand in marriage and the bride would wear the belt on her wedding day. In this video Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian showcases a beautifully designed silver belt in our collection.
Folk Dance Scores and Instruction
Sometimes we find references to Armenian culture in the most unusual places! In this video, Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian scrolls through the 1927 book “American Indian and Other Folk Dances” which includes the first English description of the folk dance “Lepo Lele,” as well as instructions of how to dance to this and several other Armenian songs. Put on your dancing shoes and see if this sounds familiar to you!
Century-old Kitchenware
Thanks to the generosity of our friend Diane Mott, we have two items in our collection from Armenian kitchens of the late 1800’s. Diane is a renowned textile specialist as well as a former curator of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and a curator from the Young Museum in CA. She donated a metal pot and a colander both of which were commonly used handmade kitchen tools. In this video, Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian showcased these intricately designed and inscribed pieces that were found in homes of that time period.
Women’s Accessories, and a Painting from Kiev
This week we are sharing two accessories from the late 1800’s. One is a metal box engraved with floral designs and the other is Armenian needlework from the region of Erzurum. Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian also shares a painting of Geghard Monastery by Ukranian-Armenian painter Vladimir Savadian, which was donated to the Museum after his exhibition here in the 1990’s.
Mourad Marching Band
In the early 1940’s, marching bands were a fixture in every American ethnic group. Here at the Armenian Museum of America we have a saxophone, trumpet and a clarinet from the Mourad Marching Band of Providence, RI. Unfortunately, as men returned from war, they did not return to the same pastimes and marching bands slowly became unpopular. In this video, Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian shares yet another piece of the Armenian American experience.
Calendars
Every December we all get inundated with organizations and businesses sending us promotional calendars. Maybe your grandmother gives you one each Christmas. But in the age of digital calendars on our smartphones, who needs these, right? Maybe not. Watch as Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian discusses the calendars in our collection and the important history they document.
Please note: Mr. Lind-Sinanian says "Massis" when he meant "Marash". Massis Bakery still exists in Watertown!
Coffee
For Armenians, coffee is a way of life. If you have houseguests, a business meeting, or you’re just visiting a friend, all these occasions call for the perfect cup. Click here to learn about the history of coffee in Armenia and even its introduction to European society!
The Art of Darvish
Here at the Armenian Museum, our mission is to educate the public about Armenian art and culture, and as such our galleries are filled with typically Armenian works. However, like any other culture, Armenian culture does not exist in a vacuum and can reflect influences from other traditions. This week, Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian discusses the Persian influence over one family of Armenian artists. The artist André Sevruguin, who painted using the name Darvish, was a son of the Armenian photographer Antoin Sevruguin.
The Mardouni Theater Company
Al Vega, the beloved Boston jazz player sadly passed in 2011. He was renowned for his skill and for playing with jazz greats including Billie Holiday and Miles Davis. But Mr. Vega was not the only performer in the family. His father, Nigol Vagramian was the founder of the Mardouni Theater Company from Chelsea, Massachusetts. This troupe travelled and performed around New England to great praise. Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian discusses the group and the impact they had on their audiences.
Siegel Rings
Last week we discussed the variety and uses of wooden molds and stamps, and this week we are following up with a more glamorous way to make impressions or markings. While jewelry is usually worn to enhance the beauty of the wearer or as a show of wealth, gems and jewels have had practical uses as well. Watch as Collection Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian discusses the use of siegel rings, their composition, and how they were produced.
Ankle Bells
Children are rambunctious and difficult to keep track of, and we all know that silence can sometimes be worse than a ruckus! Today we have Baby Bjorns, harnesses, and cameras to help us keep track of our kids, but what would you do if these weren’t available? Join Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian as he discusses the ingenious (and beautiful) means by which Armenian parents monitored their children’s whereabouts.
Armenian Ceramic Eggs
Churches are filled with beautiful art that come from rich traditions. In Armenia, ceramic eggs decorated with crosses and seraphim (angels) adorn the lamps suspended from the ceiling. They are lovely to behold, but are they just there to please worshippers or honor God? Why eggs and not some other shape? Listen as Collections Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian discusses the origin of the symbolism and use of these eggs.