Sotheby's: 17th c. Armenian Gospel manuscript going under the hammerNovember 26, 2020 - 16:49 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Sotheby's auction house is auctioning off an early 17th century illuminated Armenian Gospel manuscript, with a tooled calf binding. The 147 x 100mm 197-leaf book is believed to have been created in Amida, an ancient city in Mesopotamia located where modern Diyarbakır (Turkey) now stands. A full-page miniature of an Evangel can be found at the start of each book, with the facing text written in gold with ornithomorphic illuminated letters and an illuminated headpiece. Written in bolorgir (cursive) in double columns with 27 lines, the manuscript contains numerous marginal illuminated vignettes and cartouches. Initially estimated to fetch £7,000 - 10,000, the current bidder is already offering £12,000 for the piece, with five days (by December 1) still to go till the end of the auction. According to the description on the auction house's website, the iconography and decoration is remarkably similar to a manuscript in the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore, which was written by the scribe Melk'on and illustrated by Hovannes in the scriptorium of Amida in the early seventeenth century. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Residents Of border villages protest as Armenia, Azerbaijan agree on delimitation Residents of several Armenian communities in the northeastern Tavush province began protests late on Friday. Up to 10% cashback from GetTransfer with IDBank cards IDBank clients who make their booking on GetTransfer will receive an exclusive cashback. European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. |