Copper Tray w/ Lid (Kalemkarian)
Name/Title
Copper Tray w/ Lid (Kalemkarian)Description
Copper tray with lid by Melkon Kalemkarian (1859-1918) from Aintab who was the son of Garabed. Emerging as the preeminent artistic lineage of the region, the Kalemkearian family—originally known as the Kalayci Melkonian—represents the pinnacle of traditional metalwork, sculpture, and engraving. The family's foundational figure, Karabet Kalfa (1800–1885), was a master tin-smith and coppersmith who earned the distinguished honorary title "Kalemkâr" (master of pen-work) in recognition of his exceptional achievements in sculpture and engraving. The tradition was advanced through figures such as Melkon Usta Kalemkearian (father of Avedis), a celebrated coppersmith, silversmith, and sculptor who worked alongside Harutyun M. Kalemkearian to perfect the mastery of shaping copper, brass, and silver. Beyond their material craft, members of the family were noted participants in community and ecclesiastical life, celebrated for their musical voices, technical inventions, and architectural consultations. Despite facing severe political persecution and displacement during the upheavals of the early 20th century—culminating in exile and the passing of the younger Melkon in Aleppo in 1918—the family's legacy of sacred metalwork endured. Their exquisite craftsmanship lives on through surviving ecclesiastical artifacts, including intricately carved silver reliquaries and chalices housed in regional institutions and international collections.Category
Bowls, Trays, Plates, Etc.