Front:
"THE LORD'S LAST SUPPER"
HALL OF RELIGION-A CENTURY OF PROGRESS
CHICAGO, 1934
Back:
A Tribute to
HIS MOTHER
SHE love of a young Armenian artist for his Mother
is reflected in this beautiful portrayal of “The Lord's
Last Supper”. The carving was started by IVAZ KHAN
BEYIAN in 1735, and 27 years of patient and loving labor
were required to complete the masterpiece which is entirely
hand carved of mother-of-pearl obtainable only in a shark-
infested section of the Red Sea. The fine minute detail
work caused the artist's blindness 65 days after the com-
pleted work was presented to his Mother. This religious
heirloom has been beautifully preserved by the original
family, a constant reminder and proof to the younger gen-
eration of a great love. The carving remained in the same
home until 1901 at which time it was stolen from the
family by the Turks, who invaded the village where the
KHAN BEYIAN family resided. The family searched for the
masterpiece for many years, and when the son, JOHN
KORENIAN, left the country in 1911, he continued the
search, finally locating and recovering the heirloom in
1929, but the diamonds and rubies which formerly orna-
mented the pearl masterpiece were missing.
The remarkable history of this unusual and fascinating
carving is related daily by its owner, JOHN KORENIAN, in
the HALL OF RELIGION, Century of Progress, Chicago,
1933-34.
