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Papers by Evelyn Korsch
Pickering & Chatto, Dec 1, 2014
Studies in the Decorative Arts, 2007
Das Meer. Maritime Welten in der Frühen Neuzeit
Annales Mercaturae, 2017
The merits and intrigues of Gregorio Agdollo - an Armenian in service of Saxony. This paper pre... more The merits and intrigues of Gregorio Agdollo - an Armenian in service of Saxony.
This paper presents an Armenian merchant called Gregorio Agdollo (1707-1789) who served the Dresden Court for 50 years. By his activities will be shown how the Electorate of Saxony attempted to strengthen its trade relations with Italy in the midst of the 18 th century. Several agents were assigned to explore the possibilities for new markets and thereby to push the Saxon economy to a boom. As a consequence of the peace treaty of Aachen on 18 th October 1748 the Saxon commercial policy undertook a realignment of its economic strategies. New markets in Italy should offer an alternative to the trade routes crossing the Prussian and Austrian territories where high duties were charged. There is evidence that the main aim of the agents' efforts consisted in providing high credits and acquiring-also in illegal ways-art works for August III. The commercial negotiations served as an undercover action to permit long stays in Italy without arousing suspicion. Nevertheless, in one case the agents' proceedings resulted in a trade agreement. Gregorio Agdollo was an experienced dealer of luxury goods who firstly resided in Livorno and Florence. In 1740, he was appointed by August III court counsellor and residente in Tuscany. Even though he supplied the Dresden court with art works and other luxury goods and later on tried to obtain a credit for the king his principal task consisted in elaborating mercantile projects for increasing the sales of Saxon textile products. He was convinced that only an access to the Levantine trade as well as a technology transfer could replenish the treasury. Agdollo operated with ardent zeal, corruption and fraudulent practices. Moreover, he could rely on the infrastructure and contacts of a global trading network created by his relatives, the famous Sceriman family. The Sceriman were wealthy gem traders who had migrated from New Julfa to Venice in the 1690s. After failed attempts to promote trade agreements with Tuscany and Russia Agdollo became residente in Venice and moved to the lagoon in 1743. There, he struggled for a commercial treaty between Saxony and the Republic of Venice for years. Finally in 1756, a contract was signed by both the king and the republic. The tariff preferences of this agreement focused on wool and linen products on the part of Saxony and silk textiles on the Venetian side. During the Seven Years' War the exchange of goods was limited but from 1763 onwards the export of Saxon textiles continuously increased. The republic's expectations, on the contrary, were disappointed since there was only a very little demand for Venetian silk. Despite this commercial failure Agdollo succeeded in renewing the contract in 1769. In the 1780s, however, when he asked for a further extension the Venetians refused it. But it's due to Agdollo's special skills and efforts that the Saxon textile manufactures enjoyed an economic upswing in the second half of the 18 th century.
Musik und Vergnügen am Hohen Ufer. Fest- und Kulturtransfer zwischen Hannover und Venedig in der Frühen Neuzeit, hg. v. Sabine Meine, Nicole K. Strohmann und Tobias C. Weißmann, 2015
Beim Festbankett zum Amtsantritt des Dogen Alvise Mocenigo im Mai 1570 traten nicht nur die konve... more Beim Festbankett zum Amtsantritt des Dogen Alvise Mocenigo im Mai 1570 traten nicht nur die konventionellen Oratoren auf, sondern es wurde auch eine musikalische Präsentation dargeboten. Als Autor der gesungenen Stanzen firmierte Celio Magno, der sein Werk aus staatsideologischer Perspektive geschrieben hatte. Ziel war, der versammelten Festgesellschaft, die aus Regierungsmitgliedern und ausländischen Diplomaten bestand, den göttlichen Charakter des venezianischen Staates darzulegen. Der vorliegende Beitrag zeigt, wie die Musik als instrumentum regni zur Umsetzung dieser spezifischen Repräsentationsstrategien genutzt wurde.
Conclusions: The Sceriman as merchants involved in long-distance trade travelled and operated all... more Conclusions: The Sceriman as merchants involved in long-distance trade travelled and operated all over Europe and Asia. They had their headquarters in New Julfa and established a global commercial network with factors residing at all important markets. The junior members of the family were sent there for their formation. The Sceriman received trade privileges, served as court financiers and were granted titles of nobility. When at the end of the 17th century the political situation in Persia changed, part of the family moved to Venice where they had maintained commercial relations for several decades. The emigrated Sceriman remained in intense contact with the family members in New Julfa. Regarding internal family affairs they continued to follow Armenian traditions as shown by the patriarchal system, marriage arrangements and primogeniture. Nonetheless, the Sceriman tried by every means to assimilate and to integrate themselves into the upper class of the Venetian society. Firstly, they stressed their Catholic faith and made significant loans to the Venetian Republic as well as to diverse European courts in order to obtain privileges and titles of nobility. Then, they strove towards marriages with partners belonging to the patriciate or nobility. Once settled, they adapted to the lifestyle of noble families. Not all the sons became merchant bankers anymore, but some of them made an ecclesiastical or military career. At the same time, the Sceriman distinguished themselves topographically from the Armenian community by moving their residences to areas more distant from San Zulian and closer to the commercial centre of Rialto. Their domiciles were renovated according to the prevailing taste of the upper class. Besides, they invested in religious memorial art and made donations to Christian churches. Finally, they acquired numerous buildings as well as land property in order to gain prestige.
After three generations the Sceriman were integrated into Venetian society even though they were not admitted to the Venetian patriciate. This gradual Assimilation is revealed by the use of language. The first generation in Venice learnt to speak Italian but used for their correspondences only Armenian. The second generation, however, used Armenian for business and Italian for private letters. Finally, the third generation communicated only in Italian, even when they sent letters abroad. Nevertheless, the Sceriman were proud of their ethnic origins and signed as Armenians “di Giulfa, di Ispahan Metropoli della Persia, e Cristiani Cattolici”.
In conclusion, it can be stated that the Sceriman who settled in Venice followed the same economic strategies as the Venetian patriciate. They gained prosperity by trade activities but when the profit margins of international commerce diminished they invested in land property and banking. The Sceriman assimilated in all aspects to the sociocultural codes of their host society.
Th e Armenian diaspora in Venice, its activities in the Eurasian gem trade and its trading networ... more Th e Armenian diaspora in Venice, its activities in the Eurasian gem trade and its trading networks are at the centre of this analysis. As a case study, the commercial activities of the Sceriman family in the fi rst half of the eighteenth century will be shown. Th ese Armenian merchants settled in Venice and Livorno, which were the strategically most important business locations in Italy. Venice served as a signifi cant turnover hub for trading and processing diamonds and other gems. Moreover, it functioned as a gateway connecting markets in Italy to those in the Levant, Persia and India. Livorno, meanwhile, was the most important centre for trading coral and manufacturing coral products. Furthermore, the Tuscan port linked Italy with the Atlantic markets, the West Indies, Africa and India. Both cities had commercial relations with markets in the German territories, in Vienna, Poland and Russia. Hence the diamond trade run by Armenian merchants was based on global networks that provided them with capital, information, infrastructure and specialized personnel.
The visit of the new king of France, Henri III, to Venice in 1574 offered both the monarch and th... more The visit of the new king of France, Henri III, to Venice in 1574 offered both the monarch and the republic an opportunity for gaining prestige.
Books by Evelyn Korsch
Conference Presentations by Evelyn Korsch
Events, Seminars, Talks by Evelyn Korsch
Pickering & Chatto, Dec 1, 2014
Studies in the Decorative Arts, 2007
Das Meer. Maritime Welten in der Frühen Neuzeit
Annales Mercaturae, 2017
The merits and intrigues of Gregorio Agdollo - an Armenian in service of Saxony. This paper pre... more The merits and intrigues of Gregorio Agdollo - an Armenian in service of Saxony.
This paper presents an Armenian merchant called Gregorio Agdollo (1707-1789) who served the Dresden Court for 50 years. By his activities will be shown how the Electorate of Saxony attempted to strengthen its trade relations with Italy in the midst of the 18 th century. Several agents were assigned to explore the possibilities for new markets and thereby to push the Saxon economy to a boom. As a consequence of the peace treaty of Aachen on 18 th October 1748 the Saxon commercial policy undertook a realignment of its economic strategies. New markets in Italy should offer an alternative to the trade routes crossing the Prussian and Austrian territories where high duties were charged. There is evidence that the main aim of the agents' efforts consisted in providing high credits and acquiring-also in illegal ways-art works for August III. The commercial negotiations served as an undercover action to permit long stays in Italy without arousing suspicion. Nevertheless, in one case the agents' proceedings resulted in a trade agreement. Gregorio Agdollo was an experienced dealer of luxury goods who firstly resided in Livorno and Florence. In 1740, he was appointed by August III court counsellor and residente in Tuscany. Even though he supplied the Dresden court with art works and other luxury goods and later on tried to obtain a credit for the king his principal task consisted in elaborating mercantile projects for increasing the sales of Saxon textile products. He was convinced that only an access to the Levantine trade as well as a technology transfer could replenish the treasury. Agdollo operated with ardent zeal, corruption and fraudulent practices. Moreover, he could rely on the infrastructure and contacts of a global trading network created by his relatives, the famous Sceriman family. The Sceriman were wealthy gem traders who had migrated from New Julfa to Venice in the 1690s. After failed attempts to promote trade agreements with Tuscany and Russia Agdollo became residente in Venice and moved to the lagoon in 1743. There, he struggled for a commercial treaty between Saxony and the Republic of Venice for years. Finally in 1756, a contract was signed by both the king and the republic. The tariff preferences of this agreement focused on wool and linen products on the part of Saxony and silk textiles on the Venetian side. During the Seven Years' War the exchange of goods was limited but from 1763 onwards the export of Saxon textiles continuously increased. The republic's expectations, on the contrary, were disappointed since there was only a very little demand for Venetian silk. Despite this commercial failure Agdollo succeeded in renewing the contract in 1769. In the 1780s, however, when he asked for a further extension the Venetians refused it. But it's due to Agdollo's special skills and efforts that the Saxon textile manufactures enjoyed an economic upswing in the second half of the 18 th century.
Musik und Vergnügen am Hohen Ufer. Fest- und Kulturtransfer zwischen Hannover und Venedig in der Frühen Neuzeit, hg. v. Sabine Meine, Nicole K. Strohmann und Tobias C. Weißmann, 2015
Beim Festbankett zum Amtsantritt des Dogen Alvise Mocenigo im Mai 1570 traten nicht nur die konve... more Beim Festbankett zum Amtsantritt des Dogen Alvise Mocenigo im Mai 1570 traten nicht nur die konventionellen Oratoren auf, sondern es wurde auch eine musikalische Präsentation dargeboten. Als Autor der gesungenen Stanzen firmierte Celio Magno, der sein Werk aus staatsideologischer Perspektive geschrieben hatte. Ziel war, der versammelten Festgesellschaft, die aus Regierungsmitgliedern und ausländischen Diplomaten bestand, den göttlichen Charakter des venezianischen Staates darzulegen. Der vorliegende Beitrag zeigt, wie die Musik als instrumentum regni zur Umsetzung dieser spezifischen Repräsentationsstrategien genutzt wurde.
Conclusions: The Sceriman as merchants involved in long-distance trade travelled and operated all... more Conclusions: The Sceriman as merchants involved in long-distance trade travelled and operated all over Europe and Asia. They had their headquarters in New Julfa and established a global commercial network with factors residing at all important markets. The junior members of the family were sent there for their formation. The Sceriman received trade privileges, served as court financiers and were granted titles of nobility. When at the end of the 17th century the political situation in Persia changed, part of the family moved to Venice where they had maintained commercial relations for several decades. The emigrated Sceriman remained in intense contact with the family members in New Julfa. Regarding internal family affairs they continued to follow Armenian traditions as shown by the patriarchal system, marriage arrangements and primogeniture. Nonetheless, the Sceriman tried by every means to assimilate and to integrate themselves into the upper class of the Venetian society. Firstly, they stressed their Catholic faith and made significant loans to the Venetian Republic as well as to diverse European courts in order to obtain privileges and titles of nobility. Then, they strove towards marriages with partners belonging to the patriciate or nobility. Once settled, they adapted to the lifestyle of noble families. Not all the sons became merchant bankers anymore, but some of them made an ecclesiastical or military career. At the same time, the Sceriman distinguished themselves topographically from the Armenian community by moving their residences to areas more distant from San Zulian and closer to the commercial centre of Rialto. Their domiciles were renovated according to the prevailing taste of the upper class. Besides, they invested in religious memorial art and made donations to Christian churches. Finally, they acquired numerous buildings as well as land property in order to gain prestige.
After three generations the Sceriman were integrated into Venetian society even though they were not admitted to the Venetian patriciate. This gradual Assimilation is revealed by the use of language. The first generation in Venice learnt to speak Italian but used for their correspondences only Armenian. The second generation, however, used Armenian for business and Italian for private letters. Finally, the third generation communicated only in Italian, even when they sent letters abroad. Nevertheless, the Sceriman were proud of their ethnic origins and signed as Armenians “di Giulfa, di Ispahan Metropoli della Persia, e Cristiani Cattolici”.
In conclusion, it can be stated that the Sceriman who settled in Venice followed the same economic strategies as the Venetian patriciate. They gained prosperity by trade activities but when the profit margins of international commerce diminished they invested in land property and banking. The Sceriman assimilated in all aspects to the sociocultural codes of their host society.
Th e Armenian diaspora in Venice, its activities in the Eurasian gem trade and its trading networ... more Th e Armenian diaspora in Venice, its activities in the Eurasian gem trade and its trading networks are at the centre of this analysis. As a case study, the commercial activities of the Sceriman family in the fi rst half of the eighteenth century will be shown. Th ese Armenian merchants settled in Venice and Livorno, which were the strategically most important business locations in Italy. Venice served as a signifi cant turnover hub for trading and processing diamonds and other gems. Moreover, it functioned as a gateway connecting markets in Italy to those in the Levant, Persia and India. Livorno, meanwhile, was the most important centre for trading coral and manufacturing coral products. Furthermore, the Tuscan port linked Italy with the Atlantic markets, the West Indies, Africa and India. Both cities had commercial relations with markets in the German territories, in Vienna, Poland and Russia. Hence the diamond trade run by Armenian merchants was based on global networks that provided them with capital, information, infrastructure and specialized personnel.
The visit of the new king of France, Henri III, to Venice in 1574 offered both the monarch and th... more The visit of the new king of France, Henri III, to Venice in 1574 offered both the monarch and the republic an opportunity for gaining prestige.