Ref:  6368

A painted and carved bridal box from the Anatolian Highlands Geometric motifs are typical of Armenian folk painted boxes and this one is adorned with the symbol of Sirius, the Dog Star, even before the Egyptians the antecedents of modern Armenians, in the Eastern Highlands, in the cradle of European civilisation, were mathematicians & astronomers, they like other ancient cultures were fascinated by Sirius, the dazzling one, the brightest star in the firmament which rose in the late summer before the Sun (giving rise to the phrase ‘dog days’ of Summer), it’s powerful symmetrical appearance to the eye, an orb with arrows of light directed to the 4 points of the compass gave it within the folk culture gave it a sense of authority & cosmic preeminence, the scratch marks to the front of this piece are curious, there are ancient sites in the mountains of Anatolia, some of which are astronomical platforms, with carvings of constellations, but even as little as 100 yrs ago, ethnographers found local women would visit these places to perform ritual activity seeking luck & good fortune in child birth, it’s plausible that the marks on this box are
evidence of similar ritual activity.

It is hardwood and very good condition. The box form is early, 17th century but it could be early 19th century.

Anatolian Highlands      early 19th cent.

H: 60cm (23.6in)
W: 98cm (38.6in)
D: 40cm (15.7in)

£650