A comb back

Object Details

• Description

  A comb-back: a sheath with a socket for teeth. Sheet-iron. Decoration engraved and inlaid with silver and gold (some areas missing); inscriptions engraved in counter-sunk relief.

• Inscriptions

  Inscriptions (Arabic, naskhi): “[Arabic]”. Translation: “The congregation, the obedience, the religion, the hour of judgement.”

• Label

  This arch-shaped hollow piece, used as the back of a comb, was made in two parts and soldered together at the sides. A plaque with teeth would have been inserted into the sheath at the bottom and secured with a pin. The arabic inscription in naskhi along the outer edges of the piece can be translated as, "The congregation, the obedience, the religion, the hour of judgment."

• Provenance

  ?-1940

  Edward Beghian (1876-1962), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  From 1940

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Edward Beghian through H. S. Andonian, New York, NY [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List after 1920.

  Edward Beghian (E. Beghian) (1876-1962) was a dealer in London, England, between 1925 and 1940 who specialized primarily in the sale of carpets and Persian antiques and paintings. He exhibited objects in the 1931 “International Exhibition of Persian Art” at the Royal Academy, London, Objects from the Beghian collection may also be found at the British Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Colonial Williamsburg, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

  [2] See note 1.

  Hagop Simon Andonian (H. S. Andonian) (1887-1967) was a merchant, business administrator, and executive in New York, NY. Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Andonian arrived in the United States in the early 1910s and worked as a secretary in New York, NY. Between 1913 and at least 1915, Andonian served as the secretary (or clerk) to Henry Morgenthau Sr. (1856-1946), the US Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire in Istanbul between 1913 and 1916. During his tenure, Ambassador Morgenthau tried to persuade the US Government to intervene in the Armenian Genocide, but he was unsuccessful. As a result, Ambassador Morgenthau resigned and published his memoir, “Ambassador Morgenthau’s Story” (1918) as a response to the US Government’s inaction. Allegedly Andonian had significant input in the book. Andonian returned to the United States in 1916 and worked in New York City as a secretary, “commissioned merchant,” and manager in unknown industries in the 1920s and 1930s. By 1942, Andonian was the director of Dirkran G. Kelekian’s (1867-1951) antiques gallery, and by 1950 he was the president of his own a “wholesale merchant” business, possibly named Promotex, Inc.

  Research updated June 30, 2023

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Islamic Metalwork in the Freer Gallery of Art (September 27, 1985 to November 17, 1986)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Edward Beghian (1876-1962)

• Origin

  Iran

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Tool and Equipment

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1500s, 1610s, 1600s, 1590s, 1540s, 1650s, 1530s, 1640s, 1520s, 1630s, 1510s, 1620s, 1580s, 1730s, 1690s, 1570s, 1680s, 1560s, 1670s, 1550s, 1660s

• Name

  Beghian, Edward

• Topic

  S?afavid dynasty, 1501-1736, Art, Inlay (process), Arts of the Islamic World, Metal-cutting, Iron, Engraving (incising)

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Object Type

  Tools and equipment