Tea Container Box
Name/Title
Tea Container BoxDescription
Tea container tin box featuring six languages—Armenian, Russian, Greek, French, Hebrew, and Ottoman Turkish. The lid is adorned with the coat of arms of the Ottoman Empire which means the box is from anytime after 1882. The Yavrouian & Issacoulian Tea Company was founded in 1880 in Constantinople (now Istanbul) by Garabet Yavrouian and Hovhannes Issacoulian. The company was renowned for importing tea from far-flung regions and operated from its headquarters at 10 Djelal Bey Han in the Bahçekapı district. The building’s multilingual advertising panels remain visible today, reflecting its historical international presence. Hovhannes Issacoulian was born in Van in 1852 and moved to Constantinople with his father at the age of 18. After his father’s death, Issacoulian remained in the city, where his intelligence and diligence helped him advance in commercial circles, ultimately leading to the founding of the tea company in 1880. During the Patriarchate of Khrimian Hayrik, Issacoulian’s home was a prominent patriarchal residence frequently visited by the Patriarch, high-ranking clergy, and notable guests. He provided support to the Armenian community from Van residing in Constantinople. Issacoulian was also active in public affairs. Following the 1908 proclamation of the Ottoman Constitution, he issued a public appeal through Armenian newspapers, donating funds to support a local school. He played a key role in reorganizing the United Society, which had been dissolved under Sultan Abdul Hamid II, serving as a board member and later its president. Additionally, he acted as a delegate for his district and trustee of the Holy Church of Makriköy (Bakırköy). In 1932, Issacoulian immigrated to the United States, where he lived until his death in 1942 in New York. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx and was survived by his wife, one son, and two daughters. The Yavrouian family continued the tea business in France, with Levon Yavrouian, son of Garabed, establishing branches in Marseille and Paris, extending the company’s legacy in Europe.Category
Misc.