Did anyone happen to decode the label? I'd be interested in the maker's name.
definitely a Krikor Kahyayan oudJonathan - 10-14-2010 at 05:21 AM
Do you know the year?paulO - 10-14-2010 at 10:55 AM
Yep, it Krikor Kehyayan.
Cheers..Paul Jonathan - 10-16-2010 at 03:44 PM
Can anybody tell me what the year is?chaldo - 10-16-2010 at 04:23 PM
Hi Jonathan, here I attached the label (larger size), it does not seem to include a date, I've seen other kahyayan that had the date written with a
pen over the label... this one doesn't seem have that.
3 numbers on the label.
written in Turkish at the end is 360
then in Armenian at the end is 860
then in big, 2275 which means what? cant be hijri..
Jonathan - 10-17-2010 at 07:53 AM
Thanks, Chaldo. I just have no idea what that number represents. The 360 or 860, I am guessing, must refer to an address, as it seems preprinted on
the label.
I own an oud by this same guy, and while the labels differ a bit (mine is from 1919), thee is no numb similar to the one above.
Oh well. Thanks again
Numbers
spyrosc - 10-17-2010 at 11:53 AM
The serial number of the oud is 2275.
The number 360 (which is the same in Arabic and European numerals, although it looks like 860) is simply the telephone number of the shop.
Spyros C. Jonathan - 10-17-2010 at 10:11 PM
Serial number? What do you mean?chaldo - 10-18-2010 at 09:57 AM
Have a look at the label from your 1919 Kahyayan, you will also see a serial number placed at the top of the label... and if you look precisely you
will notice that the font used for the numbers is still the same on both labels. But labels can stay unchanged for many years...
The sn of your oud is in the 3000's, this one is #2275, that can help to have an approximation of the date... or it just means it's older than yours
if no other examples are found.
relative dating at it's best
Veysel can help you on this though, he's got some examples of Kahyayan.
Serial number
spyrosc - 10-18-2010 at 09:26 PM
Jonathan,
Serial number means that Mr. Kehayan's shop had produced that many ouds since they started numbering them.
Incidentally it is interesting that (as Jonathan mentions in his website) in Armenian the name reads "Krikor" (Gregory) but in the Turkish spelling on
the label it is "Kirqor".
Spyros C. Jonathan - 10-19-2010 at 08:08 AM
I guess that is a possibility. A fairly large number of ouds from that shop, but certainly possible.
Thanks for your input.
As for the name, since "q" and "k" sound identical, I don't think it really matters. After all, the English and the Turkish spellings are not his
name--they are just attempts to capture phonetically the sound of his name, which is in another language (Armenian).
Krikor
spyrosc - 10-19-2010 at 02:19 PM
No, my point was "Kri" vs "Kir" not between "k" and "q". Krikor is the ancient Greek name "Grigorios" meaning "Quick", "Awake", "Watchful", or even
"Smart". Kir-kor is just a corruption of that name.
You had pointed that out in your website. So this was verification of your website's information.
I know it's a small point but it means you did your homework on your information.
Spyros C.Jonathan - 10-19-2010 at 04:13 PM
Sorry, I misread what you wrote.
Thanks again for your help.
