Collection Van Kingdom
The kingdom of Urartu that had spread east and south from the region of Lake Van in Western Armenia left a heritage such as the crescent-shaped silver pectoral which is now kept in the Miho museum of the Kyoto city as a feminine silver necklace of unique beauty from the Kingdom of Van going back to 8th-7th century B.C.E.
This crescent-shaped silver pectoral's imagery is complex. It's real width is 18.4 cm. It features three sacred trees, so called, inhabited by striding fantastic winged quadrupeds. Two identical rows of two-legged winged creatures approach the central tree with drawn bows while two winged genii kneel on opposite sides of the crescent between pairs of raised rosettes. These motifs are most likely amulet in function which ancient Armenians worshiped.
In Armenian Highlands, gold and silver have been broadly used since copper-stone age (Eneolithic - 5-6 BC). Many testimonies have been maintained on Armenian rich mines in Greco-Roman historians' records as well (this is also evidenced by archaeological wealthy findings). Afterwards, Gold and Silver Art became widely spread separate and most prestigious branches of Decorative Applied Art.
Arm Root was founded by Tatev Hovakimyan from Armenia targeted to create modern jewelry based on new technologies through maintaining culture and rich traditions of silver art for age.
