The Psalter of the orthodox Church

Historical period(s)
14th century
Medium
Ink on parchment
Dimensions
H x W x D: 12.5 x 9.4 x 6.8 cm (4 15/16 x 3 11/16 x 2 11/16 in)
Geography
Armenia
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1937.13
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Manuscript
Type

Manuscript

Keywords
Armenia, Christianity, illumination
Provenance

?-to at least 1929
Emmanuel (Manolis) Segredakis (1891-1948), method of acquisition unknown, New York or Paris [1]

?-to at least 1937
Unidentified collector, method of acquisition unknown [2]

From 1937
Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from unidentified collector through A. Garabed, London [3]

Notes:

[1] See Gabriel Millet et Sirarpie Der Nersessian, “Le Psautier Arménien Illustré,” “Revue des Études Arméniennes” Xe année, (1929): 137. In the introduction, the authors thank Byzantinist M. André Zyngopoulous, and they note that “The manuscript belongs to one of his friends, Mr. Emmanuel Segredakis.” The manuscript is referred to as The Segredakis Psalter. Emmanuel (Manolis) Segredakis (1891-1948) was a Greek-born antiquities dealer with a gallery in Paris and possibly one in New York.

[2] Garabed, a London-based antiquities dealer, was acting as a consignor for an unidentified collector. Twice he notes that he does not own the psalter, first in February 8, 1937 letter to J.E. Lodge (“…as this book is not my own and in case you do not keep it I must return it in as good condition as when it was handed to me.”), and again in March 23, 1937 (“As a matter of fact before sending the bible to you, I induced the owners to bring the original price of…” and “As the book does not belong to me…”). See original letters in object file.

[3] See A. Garabed invoice to Freer Gallery of Art, April 9, 1937, and marked approved on April 5, 1937. Copy of invoice is in object file.

Research updated December 7, 2022

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Emmanuel Segredakis
A. Garabed

Published References
  • Sirarpie Der Nersessian. Armenian Manuscripts in the Freer Gallery of Art. Oriental Studies Series, no. 6 Washington, 1963. pp. 73-80, pls. 80-81.
  • Gabriel Millet, Sirarpie Der Nersessian. Le Psautier Armenien Illustre
    . vol. 9, no. 1 Paris. pp. 137-181.
  • Avedis Krikor Sajian. Catalogue of Medieval Armenian Manuscripts in the United States. University of California Publications, Near Eastern Studies; vol. 16 Berkeley. pp. 739-744.
Collection Area(s)
Biblical Manuscripts
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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