“CEHİZ” LAYİHƏSİ": DIALOGUE BETWEEN GENERATIONS AND STUDYING DOWRY CULTURE IN AZERBAIJAN

ITALDIZAIN, with the support of the Herend, Moser and Greggio brands (represented in the Ambiance boutique), in collaboration with the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art, announced the launch of the CEHİZ LAYİHƏSİ project, dedicated to the study of the traditions of preparing a dowry in Azerbaijan.

Dowries are more than just gifts for newlyweds in Azerbaijani culture. It is a symbolic expression of deeply held values such as family and hospitality. It is a bridge between the past and the future, which transmits cultural heritage from generation to generation and emphasizes the importance of marriage as a significant stage in the life of every person. The goal of this project is to study traditions and convey knowledge about them to a new generation.

The project is a year-long series of events including lectures, workshops and field research. Participants will have the opportunity to delve into the history of dowry, discuss its modern trends and exchange their thoughts and experiences.

The first lecture “Unchanged classics: porcelain, crystal, silver in Azerbaijani culture”, within the framework of the Cehiz Layihə project, took place on June 19 at the Azerbaijan National Museum of Arts. The speakers of this event were experts in various fields: Ph.D. in history, associate professor, chief curator of the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan Mahfuza Zeynalova, Ph.D. in art history, leading researcher at ANAS Telman Ibragimov, as well as co-owner of the private gallery FR Gallery & Studio Ruslan Huseynov.

During the lecture, participants learned about the origin of the exhibits of the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art, methods of searching for artifacts in Azerbaijan, as well as the revival of interest in collecting antiques. Particular attention was paid to the significance of the tradition of passing on ancient dishes from generation to generation, which is a symbol of the continuation of the family and the preservation of its history. Participants were actively involved in the discussion, asking questions to the experts.

During the lecture, Telman Ibragimov demonstrated a unique method for assessing the quality of porcelain tableware, comparing the sound of different samples of the XIX century. When you lightly strike the edge of a porcelain product containing more than 50% kaolin, you can hear a long, clear and melodic sound - this is evidence of high quality. In this comparison, Hungarian-made porcelain from Herend stood out against the background of antique Chinese porcelain with its bright and clear sound, which indicates the high quality and craftsmanship of its manufacture.

 

 

Date
22 September 2023
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