The Psalter of the orthodox Church

Object Details

• 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

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Armenian Manuscripts (May 15, 1979 to March 11, 1980)

  Christian Art (April 10, 1978 to October 12, 1978)

  Christian Art (December 1, 1971 to April 7, 1978)

  Christian Art (January 1, 1963 to May 15, 1968)

  Untitled Exhibition, Armenian and Byzantine Art (July 28, 1958 to January 1, 1963)

  Centennial Exhibition, Gallery 6 Alcove (February 25, 1956 to July 22, 1958)

  Special Exhibition, Armenian Manuscripts and East Christian Art (February 15, 1955 to April 13, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Near Eastern Art, East Corridor (October 26 to November 10, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Near Eastern Art, 1947 (June 18, 1947 to October 26, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Armenian Manuscripts (December 20, 1944 to October 6, 1947)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Emmanuel Segredakis

  Arthur Garabed Kevorkian (born ca. 1891)

• Origin

  Armenia

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Manuscript

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1400s, 1300s

• Name

  Kevorkian, Arthur Garabed, Segredakis, Emmanuel

• Place

  Armenia

• Topic

  Biblical Manuscripts, Bible, Illumination

• Culture

  Christians

• Object Type

  Manuscripts