Historical Armenian Necklaces

Necklaces have been a key aspect of fashion across countries and cultures throughout history: as adornment, status symbolism, and as pieces of family history, among many others. Necklaces have deep cultural and religious meaning, particularly in historic Armenia. 

Not only were coin and other embellished necklaces commonplace gifts for brides during rites of passage (especially gifts given from groom to bride), they also proved to be important mechanisms for the passing down of history; history attempted to be erased  by genocide. As is the case in many survivor stories, descendants feel these artifacts bring them closer to these often enigmatic figures of survivors in their families and lives.

Genocide attempts to erase not only group history, but also family history, culture, and important cultural practices and symbols. It's pertinent to take a step away from the erasure and put attention onto the vestiges of life that genocide does leave us, to piece together narratives and memories of a time effectively destroyed by human cruelty.