THE DESIGNER
Avedis Kendir was born in 1959 in Istanbul, Turkey. His career in jewelery design started at the age of ten when he started working as an apprentice to his master Matyos. In 1980, he established the “Biriz Jewelry” brand and in 1983 he opened her first shop. Avedis Kendir, who is an international name in his field with his unique jewelery designs, became both a student and a teacher of the “Grand Bazaar School” – in his words. Kendir has been in this business and art field for more than forty years.
Avedis Kendir mostly reflects Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Ottoman styles in his works. Each design, which carries the traces of different art movements, comes to life as a unique work and reflects the masterful ‘ArtAvo’ style.
In other words, Kendir, inspired by every component of life such as people, history, objects or time, reveals the spirit and hidden gifts of nature and explains his art as follows:
“It is the nature of objects to leave traces in within human beings. Every object, has an influence on its owner and holds a mark from them. One’s every choice, not only jewelry but clothes, articles of everyday use – everything from shoes to automobile, reflects the character of the person. . Together, it creates a personal impression, a mark.”
He works with special orders and sells some of his work created by his ideas. Avedis Kendir’s clients include many well-known and important names such as Queen Elizabeth and Elizabeth Taylor. Avedis Kendir continues to perform his art and to train new artists in his workshop.
Santa Maria
Santa Maria is the biggest ship of Christopher Columbus, Genoese sailor and explorer, in his adventure to new horizons in 1492 when he passed Atlantic Ocean. Crossing Atlantic Ocean with his ship in 1492, Columbus arrived to North America. He performed several excursions during the period 1492-1504.
Avedis Kendir designed the ship as his 10-year work belonging to his mastership, adorned with golden, silver and precious components and stones. He began his work on this special piece in 2000 and completed in 2010. He constructed the ship just like to its original by working out every detail fastidiously.
This is a one-to-one copy of the Santa Maria ship at 1/40 scale. 23.540 grams of gold and silver were used in the work. It involves 37.26ct diamonds, 1.60ct rubies and enamel workmanship. The vessel measures 1.10cm * 85 cm, the length of the mast is 55 cm and the length of the rear lighthouse is 3 cm. There are also enameled glass inside.
Every detail of the ship was specially thought out and meticulously designed. Everything has been produced one-on-one and in working order to ensure that each part is authentic. Since everything was done in detail, the construction of a working door lasted for about a month; even the fabric used in sails were made exclusively by a company producing gold fabric in Italy. The ship was exhibited at the Generale Archivo De India Building in Seville Cathedral between years 2014-2016 and at the Museo Naval in Madrid between 2016-2017.
The importance of Santa Maria for Avedis Kendir is that it is a vessel that unified civilizations and built new bridges between people like spaceships of today – vessels that help us discover undiscovered places, allows us to find different lives; a tool that broadens people’s horizon.