Culture
Armenian cultural value being sold at London international auction to be brought to Armenia
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has been allocated 175 million 360 thousand drams from the government reserve fund for the acquisition and transportation to Armenia of a unique Armenian cultural asset: a wooden church door panel carved in 1188, which is being sold at an international auction in London.
The issue was reported by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Zhanna Andreasyan. According to her, the ministry monitors international auctions and is working to return to Armenia interesting cultural assets that are also an essential part of Armenian cultural heritage.
"We recently acquired a painting by Arshile Gorky, which will soon be in Armenia. During the acquisition of that work, we also noticed the wooden church door panel. The carving and the ornamental system show that it is a unique specimen. Corresponding radiocarbon analyses have also been carried out, confirming the panel's creation date. According to experts, the ornamental system and typology of the carvings are fully consistent with the Armenian medieval artistic traditions. There are also published articles that attest to the door's cultural significance. I must say that a specialist was also sent on a mission and, on the spot, was convinced of the specimen's exceptional significance. Until the 1990s, only eight such pieces were known. Wood carving specimens are exceptional, and in this case we are referring to one of the eight specimens, which was put into circulation in the late 1980s and was in a private collection in New York. It is a door leaf used for the entrance to ancient Armenian churches, typical of the Bagratid period," the minister noted, adding that the leaf will be exhibited at the History Museum of Armenia.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted that in such cases, the state is primarily guided by the advice of specialists. "When specialists say that the specimen is exceptional, all necessary examinations are carried out. Recently, two exclusive Bibles were acquired for the Matenadaran. The return of cultural values to the Republic of Armenia is significant. This process is carried out at the expense of the state budget, that is, thanks to citizens working in the Republic of Armenia and paying taxes established by law."
According to the Prime Minister, the policy of acquiring historical values and replenishing museum vaults will be continuous
The largest number of Armenian wooden samples has reached us in the form of decorated church doors. The acquired door is made of walnut (190×57×12 cm) and retains partial traces of a white background layer and blue pigment.
After being transferred to Armenia, the value will be exhibited at the History Museum of Armenia, which has the necessary professional and logistical capabilities to ensure proper preservation, study, and public presentation.
