The Hovhannes Sharambeyan Museum of Folk Arts has recently received valuable donations. Syrian-Armenians Seda and Nazareth Tevekelian have gifted the Museum a number of family heirlooms, including delicately handwoven bobbin lace doilies made by their mother, Mari Tevekelian, along with other items belonging to their family: an embroidered coverlet from Aintab, a set of baptismal garments used across several generations, an example of Arapkir “manusa” (traditional handwoven striped textile), and embroidered “tutkap-bakhchas” (a type of embroidered wrapping cloth or bundle) featuring raised flat stitch embroidery.
We are pleased to announce that these pieces will be featured in the exhibition of the Museum’s Dilijan branch.
The Museum extends its deep gratitude to the Tevekelian family for their precious donation, as well as to Andranik and Alina Dakesian, who in recent years have donated not only these items but also other valuable artifacts from their family collection. Andranik Dakessian, Director of the Armenian Diaspora Research Center at Haigazian University, is one of the Museum’s most trusted friends. He has played a vital role in building bridges between diaspora artisans and the Museum, supporting the process of identifying and collecting folk art treasures within the diaspora for donation to the Museum.