Wooden Door of the Surb Karapet Monastery of Mush, 1312

The photograph shows the double wooden door of the monastery of Surb Karapet of Mush, made in 1312. This masterpiece of Armenian applied art is now kept in a private collection in Canada.

Surb Karapet of Mush is a historic monastery of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Western Armenia, now in Turkey, north-west of Mush and a short distance from the right bank of the Aratsani (Murat) River.

Both leaves are covered with finely carved geometric and plant patterns. Each leaf bears a row of standing figures, and there is a carved inscription along the lower edge. The wood is cracked and damaged.