The exhibition Armenian Cultural Treasures of the 18th–20th Centuries: Collection of the Yerevan History Museum opened on November 13, 2024 at the Guangdong Museum in China. Jointly hosted by the Guangdong Museum and Yerevan History Museum, the exhibition runs until February 16, 2025, and serves as the final stop of the Yerevan History Museum’s recent cultural tour in China.
The exhibition features over 100 Armenian cultural treasures from the Yerevan History Museum, spanning the 18th to 20th centuries, complemented by items from the Guangdong Museum. Through five parts—“Meeting Armenia”, “Traditional Armenian Attire”, “Armenian Silverware”, “Armenian Carpets” and “Cultural Heritage and Exchange”—the exhibition provides a panoramic view of Armenian art and daily life during this period. Exhibits encompass traditional clothing, jewelry, silverware, handicrafts, images of ancient cities and intangible heritage. Together, these artifacts trace the historical presence of Armenians in Guangdong, and offer a vivid depiction of Armenian customs and aesthetics.
Located at the crossroads of East and West on the Eurasian continent, Armenia has long been a meeting point for civilizations. Its unique geographical location made it a shining jewel of the Silk Road, where Eastern and Western cultures converged and flourished.
A special feature of the Guangdong leg of the exhibition is a section titled “Pomegranate Blossoms in the West”, which celebrates Armenia’s rich pomegranate culture. Through displays of clothing, silverware and carpets, this theme is further enriched by pomegranate-inspired artifacts from the Guangdong Museum. By juxtaposing Armenian and Chinese interpretations of pomegranate symbolism, the exhibition highlights the cultural exchanges and interaction along the Silk Road.
The“Cultural Heritage and Exchange” section further presents historical traces of Armenian merchants forming communities in Guangdong after the 17th century. It explores their establishment of trading houses along the Pearl River, reflecting the history of Armenian merchants in Guangzhou's Thirteen Hongs trading district and their profound connection with the city.
Source: Guangdong Museum