Treasured Objects: Armenian Daily Life in the Ottoman Empire

Brunei Gallery, London – 1 May – 24 July 2010
Exhibition conceived and organised by the Armenian Institute, London
Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund

Treasured Objects: Armenian Daily Life in the Ottoman Empire began as a community project initiated by the Armenian Institute. The Institute sent a request by post and email to British Armenian households, asking if anyone had items that had been kept in their family for 100 years, having been created or bought during the period of the Ottoman Empire. The “100 year” period was chosen to coincide with the parallel My Dear Brother postcard exhibition but also because it is the period preceding the destruction of Armenian life in that area. The items that still exist in family homes are few and precious because of this connection – but are also very revealing precisely because of their rarity.