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frieze
(?)
;
architrave
(?)
Object Type
frieze
(?)
architrave
(?)
Museum number
102614
Description
Fragment of a carved black basalt frieze or a sculptured architrave depicting in high relief a roaring lion's head, originally set to look downwards.
Production date
1stC
(probably)
Production place
Made in:
Garni
Findspot
Excavated/Findspot:
Garni
, Temple: originally part of the cornice on the top of the façade
Materials
basalt
Technique
carved
Dimensions
Height:
17.50 centimetres
Weight:
50 kilograms
(according to Nersessian's exhibition catalogue)
Thickness:
8 centimetres
Width:
13.50 centimetres
Curator's comments
Described on the plinth and in WAA Transfer book for 11.12.52 as "From the palace of Tiridates", but actually from the temple (now restored); date of acquisition on the plinth is also incorrect as Telfer died in 1907.
see letter with map, ANE Corres 1938, q.v. E.H. King, dated 1 October 1938 (photograph captioned "Palace of King Tiridates of Armenia" filed in ANE D-book); object shown to Dr Vrej Nersessian, 4 October 1996; cf. also ANE Corres, 1996, q.v. Nersessian.
Bibliographic references
Telfer J B 1876a / The Crimea and Transcaucasia, being the narrative of a journey in the Kouban, in Gouria, Georgia, Armenia, Ossety, Imeritia, Swannety, and Mingrelia, and in the Tauric Range
(pp.221-22, and plate)
Telfer J B 1891a / Armenia and its people
(p.573)
(refers to bringing this object to London)
King 1936a / A journey through the Soviet Republic of Armenia
(p.390)
(mistakenly attributed as "the sole existing remnant of the palace of King Tiridates")
King 1939a / Further exploration in the Soviet Republic of Armenia
(p.150)
(corrected earlier attribution and now recognised as being from "the 'king's [Tiridates] other palace at 'Karhni'")
Nersessian V 2001a / Treasures from the Ark: 1700 Years of Armenian Christian Art
(pp.101-103, cat. 1)
(discussion of the history of the site, this object and its likely date but with incorrect dimensions)
Sahinyan A A 1983a / Garnii antik karuyc'neri cartarapetut'yune [The architecture of the ancient fortress of Garni]
(for restored position of similar fragments)
Arkelian B / Garni I: Resultati Raskopok 1949-1950 [Garni I: Results of Excavations 1949-1950]
Location
Not on display
Exhibition history
Exhibited: 2001 2 Mar-27 May, London, The British Library, 'Treasures from the Ark: 1700 Years of Armenian Christian Art' BM, upper WAA galleries. Exhibited by Telfer at a lecture entitled "Armenia and its people" and given to the Society of Arts, London, Tuesday 5 May 1891.
Condition
Incomplete.
Subjects
mammal
Acquisition name
Bequeathed by:
Capt J Buchan Telfer
Acquisition date
1908
Acquisition notes
Collected at the ruined site in the 19th century by Telfer who bequeathed it in 1907. Caption on the plinth is incorrect as it states: "Portico of a frieze from the palace of Tiridates King of Armenia AD 100-300. Bequeathed by Captain J. Buchan Telfer R.N., F.S.A., 1903". WAA Transfer book: transferred to GR department 11 December 1952; transferred back to WAA 24 April 1996.
Department
Middle East
BM/Big number
102614
Registration number
1908,0509.1