Khachkar Making
Many khachkar masters receive formal training at art schools or with experienced masters. Since khachkar stones have to be carved in the open air, crafting is confined to the warmer months, and many masters are also architects, clergymen, and even miniature painters during the off winter seasons.
When you look at a khachkar it is hard to
imagine how the masters manage to create
such detailed and precise ornamentation; one mistake can jeopardize the whole khachkar!
The creation process begins with the master’s design idea drawn on paper. The
ornamentation often changes when the master starts to carve, as problems with sculpting arise and require alteration. Masters use chisels, hammers, and sometimes clusters of needles to carve their elaborate designs. One of the most interesting techniques that some masters apply to their carving procedures includes holding a candle to the stone’s design and measuring the shadows the design casts from its grooves. These shadows allow masters to check if the design is at a consistently even depth, which leads to a smooth final product.
Khachkar Designs
Classical khachkars exhibit a
three-tiered design structure. An ornamented cornice forms the upper portion, a cross sits in the center, and a rosette is featured in the lower section. According to some khachkar masters, the
rosette is the main stylistic element of the khachkar, “the earth around which the khachkar moves.” In fact, the three levels are often considered the “Holy Trinity,” with the cornice representing the sky or heaven, the cross symbolizing humans, and the rosette signifying earth. Khachkars are usually placed on a pedestal. Basalt is the stone of choice in Vayots Dzor for carving both the khachkar and its pedestal. No two khachkars are alike, and each features their own, unique designs. Masters draw inspiration from various sources, whether from ancient khachkars, medieval manuscripts or creative intuition.
A khachkar maker at work (Photo by Ara and Sossi Madzounian, My Armenia Program, Smithsonian Institution and USAID)
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Historical Attractions
Ethnorgraphy Story: Khachkar History
A khachkar is a stone stele decorated with a cross, and also frequently with vegetative and geometric motifs. Often reliefs of animals and humans entwine with the standard ornamental patterns. Khachkars are constructed and erected for two main reasons: religious and memorial.