Advancing the Heritage of Armenians in Jewellery
AJF ATTENDS JCK 2014 AND PROMOTES ITS MISSION
The 2014 JCK Show in Las Vegas also served as AJF's platform for networking and raising awareness of its mandate. Pierre Akkelian, Gagik Gevorkyan, Bill Boyajian and Hratch Kaspar held various meetings to discuss opportunities and promote the objectives of the foundation.
Introductory meetings were held at JCK, Luxury, and at the Antique Jewellery and Watch Show. Guests at the AJA annual cocktail on June 1st, 2014, also had a chance to learn about AJF's programs and received the Foundation's latest pamphlets. During the event, AJF Chairman Pierre Akkelian publicly thanked the AJA Western USA Chapter for their fundraising effort in 2013, briefly explained AJF's initiatives and presented the new Director for Strategic Development, Hratch Kaspar. |
AJF attended conferences held at JCK by AJF trustee Bill Boyajian and registered gemologist appraiser Jack Ghazalian. The Armenian jewellery community was also invited to gather at the local Saint Garabed Armenian Church. AJF had the opportunity to meet with the parish priest Rev. Arsen Kassabian, parish council president Garo Bedirian, and other community members. Several targeted meetings were held with Mr. Ghazalian and other certified appraisers to support AJF's historical research and teaching efforts. |
Having heard of the heritage research project at the JCK Show, AJF's team was approached by Mr. Arshag Bohdjalian who recounted the story of an antique item from Armenia. "I would like to see it in its rightful place in history and appreciated for its cultural significance," he said.
The story is about a silver watch manufactured in the 1870's at Le Locle, Switzerland, by the founder of Zenith, George Favre Jacot. In fact, Zenith is currently conducting a study to determine the exact age of the watch. Master silversmiths from Van are believed to have delicately engraved the cover with a portrait of Khrimian Hayrik, one of the most beloved figures in Armenian history, using colored enamel that still shines today.
The artifact belonged to a Dersim Armenian by the name of Sarkis Sarkissian who was murdered by the Agha Ibrahimin in 1915. Years later, the latter sold the stolen watch to the son-in-law of the rightful owner Hovnatan Hovagimian whose family has kept it safely to this day. AJF will conduct a thorough interview to document the item in its virtual library, which will be opened for researchers in the future.
As part of the campaign to present AJF's mission to various jewellery communities, AJF's Pierre Akkelian visited Mr. Laurence Tufenkjian in Beirut, and Hratch Kaspar met with Robert Tateossian in London.