The memory of a thing - the revived story of a lost artifact

The focus of the reviewed monograph Memories in a Thing: «The Spirit of Armenia» in the Images and Stories of a Forgotten Artifact is a family tapestry, an example of artistic carpet weaving made in Samarkand in 1909. Through the history of the existence of this artwork, the experience of the Armenian people’s spiritual overcoming of the challenges of time against the backdrop of the dramatic events of the early 20th century is revealed. Being an example of interdisciplinary research, Professor V.I. Ionesov’s book immerses the reader in Armenia’s past as well as shows the ways of preserving the national-cultural identity in the conditions of the great trials. The author proves that the “memory of a thing” is capable of becoming a productive basis not only for historical reconstruction, but also for actual socio-cultural design and artistic creation.