Chimera Plates

10” diameter, 1999

These are traditional decorative plates showing a chimera or dragon, a warrior fighting lions, and a lion and antelope fighting, copper, I made decorative plates in Azerbaijan.  Armenian people made many decorative plates for the house, some of silver, some of gold, some of copper.  The dragon or chimera is for good luck.  Chimeras are used in many Armenian folk paintings, rugs, decorative parts of Bible pages known as “Gates,” etc.  Chimeras and dragons were a pre-Christian symbol, but now some staffs held by Armenian pastors are topped with the cross and the heads of sea dragons.  The man with the lions illustrates a strong king, and this motif is found in many of our legends.  Lions, with the eagle, are a symbol for the country of Armenia. 

Detail