The pottery below is created, or inspired by, Tavit Ohannessian (top left), David's grandfather and namesake.  With his family, he moved from Kutayah in Turkish Armenia to Jerusalem to escape the genocide.  Tavit, his wife, and first three children marched 400 miles through Syria, the oldest daughter was kidnapped twice (bought back both times), and Tavit barely escaped a sentence to be hung.  However, once in Jerusalem, Tavit opened a pottery factory called "Dome of the Rock Tiles" on the Via  Dolorosa, where all the tiles were painted in Armenian design. One unique quality of the pottery is the rich blue glaze, which can only be found in Kutahya.  Despite the dangers, Tavit Ohannesian returned to Turkish Armenia to gather more of the blue clay. 

Today you will find pottery all over Jerusalem based on the style brought by Tavit; it has come to be one of the identifying artforms of the area. Decades later, in America, two of his daughters took up the art, Sirarpi and Mary.  Then, after our trip to Jerusalem, Mary taught me. You can glimpse my novice plates on the bottom right.

 

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