Today, when most people think of diamonds, they think of luxury, elegance, love, or dazzling jewelry. Yet the history of diamonds is not merely the story of these precious stones. For over two thousand years, diamonds have been one of the most important factors shaping international trade, diplomatic relations, political power, and the history of art. Their journey—from ancient mines to imperial treasuries—constitutes one of the most compelling stories in the history of jewelry.
When looking at a piece of jewelry, most people first notice its aesthetic value. The brilliance of diamonds, the craftsmanship of gold, the harmony of gemstones, and the subtlety of the artisan’s skill catch the eye. For a historian, however, a piece of jewelry is a historical document that reflects the economic relations, trade networks, technological knowledge, artistic sensibilities, and social structure of a specific era. For this reason, the history of jewelry is not merely the history of valuable objects, but also the history of the artisans, workshops, and cultures that produced them.
With his work titled 'Jewelry and Armenian Goldsmiths under the Ottomans', Arsen Yarman does not merely present a history or art history book; he also brings forth a comprehensive study of memory that renders visible testimonies spanning several centuries, forgotten life stories, and collective memory. Thanks to the book, many names are either introduced to the literature for the first time, or identities that have been erroneously transmitted for years are definitively corrected in the light of multilingual archival documents. Thus, the missing human stories of Ottoman jewelry history are reconstructed. The text also lays out a visual treasure before the eyes of the reader through numerous technical drawings, design sketches, and photographs of objects utilized throughout the work.
The prevalent narratives surrounding Ottoman jewelry history have mostly been shaped by the magnificent artifacts that have survived to this day. While these masterpieces, found in palace treasures, museum and private collections, continue to fascinate art historians and visitors alike, the identities of the goldsmiths, engravers, designers, and workshop owners who created them have largely remained in the shadows of history. Yet, making these masters visible once again is possible not only through stylistic analysis, but through multilingual and interdisciplinary archival research.
Discover The jewelry book that brings together Ottoman jewelry, Armenian goldsmiths, rare archives, master craftsmanship, and luxury heritage in a monumental two-volume collector’s edition.
