The Art of Armenian Jewelry

Modern Armenian jewelry stands at the intersection of heritage and innovation. In the applied arts of the Armenian people the art of jewelry has a significant place on its own, the sources of which go back to the ancient periods of our history.

While the motifs and symbols have ancient roots, today’s designers reinterpret them with a contemporary eye - clean lines, sculptural forms, and a soulful emphasis on craftsmanship. Many pieces are still made by hand, using time-honored techniques passed from master to apprentice, but shaped into designs that speak to a global, modern audience. Armenian jewelers often work in sterling silver, gold, natural stones, and mixed metals, creating pieces that feel both timeless and current. Some artists preserve traditional patterns, others explore abstract forms inspired by Armenia’s landscapes, architecture, and cultural memory.

Works of Armenian silversmiths shown both in native and foreign exhibitions are highly praised everywhere

What unites them is authenticity: jewelry made slowly, thoughtfully, and with a deep respect for materials and meaning. In today’s Armenia, jewelry is not just an accessory - it is a story you can wear.

 

Into History

In the applied arts of the Armenian people the art of jewelry (gold and silver) has a significant place of it’s own, the sources of which go back to the ancient periods of our history. Armenian Highlands were rich in metal and the natives were familiar with it since the beginning of the second millennium B.C. Moreover, they even knew how to work up and use gold and silver.

It is a well-known fact, that Armenian had widespread commercial relations with neighboring countries as well as with the countries of far distance even since ancient times and used to import expensive goods of different types. Yet, the propertied classes of Armenia would order their ornaments, decorations and household articles mainly to their native goldsmiths.

Armenia was one of the main centers of the craft and had a great number of goldsmith workshops; the art of jewelry was so highly developed in it that goldsmiths in different towns were specialized even in particular branches.

Armenian jeweler’s art having many things in common with those of the neighboring people, is yet original and quite independent in its style and technique of making.

Ornamentations of geometrical and vegetal type were widespread in antique art. By comparative combinations of such motifs multiform ornamentations were formed, which have general features almost in all the places of antiquity.

Moses of Khoren, as well as Abianos mention, that under the rule of Tigranes II, not only woman used to wear expensive stones or gold and silver ornaments, but men as well, including even soldiers. Although a considerable number of historical monuments were destroyed in different periods by various invasions, yet many specimen of valuable ornamentations mentioned by Armenian and foreign historians speak about the traditions and art of the Armenian people of Hellenistic period.

Later, in the middle of the IX century, thanks to the development of the cities and trade relations the division of certain branches in the crafts deepens even more. Goldsmiths started to keep special workshops of their own in different cities and take orders of any kind. They would take orders from the church as well. All kinds of containers, censors, crosses and cups were made in such workshops by skilled masters.

In the X-XI centuries old Armenian cities Dvin, Ani, Artsn and Van already became reat centers of commerce and different kinds of crafts highly praised by Armenian and other foreign historians.

Various relics discovered during the excavations done in Ani and Dvin, such as gold and silver ornaments, which are unique in their kind, silver bible frames etc., come to prove the fact, that they were first ordered by certain social classes only, which is proved by the material and the art of their making. Many specimens of such relics are seen in the neighboring countries, which had commercial and cultural relations with Armenia.