Lecture on Armenian manuscript bindings

Please join us for this upcoming lecture

Protection Against the Evil Eye? Votive Offerings on Armenian
Manuscript Bindings
The New York Academy of Medicine Library
3rd floor
Apr 6, 2010
pm-8:30pm

Sylvie L. Merian, Ph.D., Morgan Library and Museum

Sponsored by The Guild of Book Workers, New York Chapter and The New
York Academy of Medicine Library Historical Collections

Sylvie Merian will explore an unusual type of metal decoration found
on a number of Armenian manuscript bindings. These bindings were
embellished with odd objects haphazardly attached onto the covers,
and sometimes even onto the spine and flap. The items may include
coins, crosses, crucifixes, seal stones from personal signet rings,
metal belts, jewelry, and small metal repousse objects shaped liked
hands, eyes, crescent moons, or human faces. Some of these objects
were clearly donated by the faithful as memorials to themselves and
their families to express their Christian piety. Others surely
functioned as ex-votos. However, this does not fully explain their
entire purpose.

In view of the ubiquitous belief in evil forces, the evil eye, and
malevolent spirits in the Near East, Merian will discuss the use of
these objects as apotropaic devices to avert evil, thereby
protecting not only the donor but also the religious manuscript
itself.

Sylvie L. Merian received her Ph.D. in Armenian Studies from
Columbia University's Department of Middle East Languages and
Cultures in 1993, writing her dissertation on Armenian bookbinding.
She has published and lectured on Armenian codicology, bookbinding,
and manuscript illumination, as well as on the history of the book.
She currently works as Reader Services Librarian at the Morgan
Library and Museum.

To register, please call Erin Albritton at
212-822-7364 or email ealbritton<-at->nyam<.>or

Suggested donation $5.00

Suggested donation of $5.00 will be collected at the door.  Please
find directions to The New York Academy of Medicine at

    <URL:http://www.nyam.org/about/directions.shtml>

Rachel Lapkin
GBW NY Chapter Co-Chair


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