Map of Armenia – Tabula Chorographica Armenica
Armenian Map – Tabula Chorographica Armenica Preserved at the University Library of Bologna
The Tabula Chorographica Armenica is a monumental manuscript map created in Constantinople in 1691 for Luigi Ferdinando Marsili and now preserved at the University Library of Bologna, in the Marsili Collection, rot. 24. It is a large scroll measuring approximately 358 × 120 cm, composed of 16 sheets of paper glued to canvas, which tells the sacred geography of the Armenian Church with over 800 watercolor vignettes and symbols.COLLECTOR'S EDITION – 1:1 SCALE
- A 1:1 scale facsimile of the famous Armenian scroll preserved in Bologna
- Paper glued on canvas, as in the original
- Hand applications in 23-karat gold
- Critical commentary, certificate of authenticity and numbered colophon included
- 24-month warranty and right of withdrawal within 30 days of delivery
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6.500,00 €
- Description
Description
Technical data
- Title: Armenian Map – Tabula Chorographica Armenica
- Original date: 1691
- Place of production: Constantinople
- Author: Eremia Çelebi Keomurjian, with his son Tēr Malakʿia
- Location of the original: University Library of Bologna, Marsili Collection, rot. 24
- Dimensions: 358 × 120 cm
- Support: paper glued on canvas
- Finish: manual brush application of 23-karat gold
- Condition: new with certificate of authenticity and indication of the copy number
- Publishing house: Imago Rimini
- Warranty: 24 months
- Right of withdrawal: 30 days from delivery
What are you buying?
- the facsimile of the Armenian Map in full size, 1:1 scale
- The critical commentary and the historical-artistic apparatus dedicated to the work
A case of your choice: a luxury eco-friendly cardboard box - the certificate of the olive tree donated to Salento as part of the Olivami project
- the certificate of authenticity “colophon” with print run number
- The facsimile faithfully reproduces the dimensions, material support and decorative effect of the original, including the hand-crafted 23-karat gold applications.
Description
The Armenian Map is one of the most striking cartographic and spiritual testimonies of Armenian culture that has survived to this day. It is not a geographical map in the modern sense of the term: it is a great symbolic, historical, and religious representation, designed to preserve the memory of the sacred places, monasteries, sanctuaries, and spiritual centers of the Armenian world.
Its charm stems precisely from this hybrid nature: it is simultaneously a work of art, a historical document, a devotional object, and an extraordinary stage presence. Its monumental format, scroll-like structure, and the richness of its inscriptions and images, combined with the hand-applied 23-karat gold, make it a work capable of transforming any space into a space of culture, wonder, and conversation.
More than a simple map, this work is a vision of the world. Space isn’t just described: it’s narrated. Every detail invites you to pause, read, observe, and discover a civilization through its symbols and its memory.
History
In 1691, Luigi Ferdinando Marsili of Bologna commissioned Eremia Çelebi Kömürcüyan, an Armenian intellectual active in Constantinople, to produce a large map dedicated to the presence and sacred geography of the Armenian Church. Thus was born the Tabula Chorographica Armenica, a monumental work suspended between cartography, religious memory, and symbolic representation.
After Marsili’s death, the map remained obscured for a long time, until its rediscovery in 1991 in the storage rooms of the University Library of Bologna. Since then, it has returned to the attention of scholars and international exhibitions, culminating in its high-definition digital enhancement and public presentation as part of the Armenian Traces project.
This story makes the facsimile even more fascinating: it is not only the reproduction of a great work, but the recovery of a rare cultural memory, survived over the centuries and today accessible again.
Why it is an extraordinary work
The Armenian Map is extraordinary because it combines three dimensions rarely present together:
- Historical value, because it documents the sacred and cultural geography of the Armenian Church in the late seventeenth century.
- Artistic value, because it blends miniatures, writing, decorations and gold in a visual construction of great strength.
- Exhibition value, because its monumental format makes it a stage presence of exceptional impact.
It is a work designed for those who love high-end facsimiles, rare maps, Armenian culture, and collectibles capable of giving prestige and identity to a space.
A detail that catches the eye
One of the most evocative moments of the work is the scene in which Saint Gregory the Illuminator drives out the idols at Mus. This detail captures the map’s deepest essence: not a neutral geography, but a geography of memory, conversion, and the sacred.
It is the kind of detail that makes this work inexhaustible: it can be admired from afar for its impact and explored up close for the richness of its narrative.
Conclusion
Purchasing the Armenian Map – Tabula Chorographica Armenica means choosing a work of extraordinary charm, capable of combining collectors’ prestige, scenic power, and historical value in a single, large, collector’s facsimile.
It’s not just a fine reproduction, but a truly distinctive piece: ideal for anyone wishing to enrich their collection with a rare, authoritative, and visually striking piece. Its presence enhances any space and immediately conveys taste, culture, and uniqueness.
The Armenian Map is a choice for those who are not looking for a simple decorative object, but a work capable of leaving its mark, telling a story and preserving its cultural and emotional value over time.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Armenian Map – Tabula Chorographica Armenica
Yes. The facsimile is made to a 1:1 scale and faithfully reproduces the monumental format of the original, approximately 358 × 120 cm, preserving its visual impact and scenic presence.
Yes. The edition is embellished with 23-karat gold applications, hand-crafted on selected details of the work, to enhance the material and decorative value of the facsimile.
The purchase includes the facsimile of the Armenian Map, the critical commentary, the certificate of authenticity with numbered colophon, the Olivami project certificate and the case chosen at the time of ordering, between a luxury box or a display solution.
The original is preserved at the University Library of Bologna, within the Marsili Collection, where it represents one of the most fascinating testimonies of Armenian culture preserved in Italy.
Yes. Each copy is accompanied by a colophon and a certificate of authenticity indicating the edition number, confirming its editorial and collectible value.
The facsimile is made on paper glued to canvas, in keeping with the material structure of the original, so as to restore not only the image but also the physical presence of the work.
Yes. Thanks to its monumental size, rich iconography, and refined finishes, it is particularly suitable for studies, private libraries, reception rooms, showrooms, and prestigious professional environments.
Because it is not a simple geographical map, but an extraordinary representation of the religious, cultural, and symbolic memory of the Armenian world. Created in 1691, it documents sacred places, monasteries, and traditions, becoming a unique testimony of art, history, and spirituality.
This work comes with a 24-month warranty, in keeping with the facsimile’s high-end positioning and the quality of its editorial production.
You can exercise your right of withdrawal within 30 days of delivery, according to the commercial conditions indicated on the website.
