My Way Home
09.01.2025
5 min read
Repat Story
Imperial Porcelain with an Armenian Touch
-webp(85)-o(jpg).webp?token=857e73648e8b753ceed94c5fc587e229)
The Backstory
Lucy Nazaryan grew up in Yerevan, started her studies at Yerevan State University and later headed to Moscow to continue her education at the Financial University. She worked in television, got married, had a child and built a life there. Yet, Yerevan always stayed close to her heart. These days, Lucy splits her time between the two cities, though much of it is spent in her beloved hometown. Beyond personal ties, Yerevan has become a hub for Lucy’s search for inspiration and resources to bring her business project to life.
"After moving to Moscow and finishing my studies, I started interning at a TV production company called Author’s Television," Lucy says. "It was a two-month trial, and then they offered me a part-time position. My Armenian background and non-native Russian fluency made things tricky at first, but within six months, I trained in HR and became the head of the department. I stayed in television for ten years – it was an incredible learning experience."
Vision Behind “Legends of Armenia”
In 2020, Lucy left her TV career behind to focus on her own project. She didn’t have all the details worked out yet, but she knew one thing for sure: it would celebrate Armenian culture. Her creative work in television had reconnected her to her roots, and she wanted to share Armenia’s rich heritage with the world.
"Gayane Ballet" and "Masquerade Ballet"
"I’ve always loved imperial porcelain art and wanted to create elegant cups inspired by Armenian ballet and theater," Lucy explains. "The Imperial Porcelain Factory in St. Petersburg has been around for almost 300 years, but they’d never produced anything Armenian. It surprised me, especially considering that Armenian scholar Joseph (Hovsep) Orbeli helped preserve their art collection, including their porcelain, during World War II."
Lucy reached out to the factory with an idea to create a coffee set inspired by Aram Khachaturian’s Gayane Ballet. "At the start, I didn’t envision a whole series because the investment was significant. But the project felt important. The factory’s Russian Ballet series didn’t include Gayane since it’s not staged in Russian theaters like Spartacus. Later, we also released a Masquerade Ballet set based on another of Khachaturian’s works."

These sets marked the first Armenian-themed designs at the factory, and they quickly gained popularity among collectors and diaspora members. The success of the set inspired Lucy to move forward and create the Legends of Armenia series.
"Maestro Aznavour"
The second set in the series was dedicated to Charles Aznavour. Lucy approached his family, including his son and fiancée, to get their blessing before moving forward. "The factory is strict about copyright permissions, so I wanted to do everything properly. I collaborated closely with their designers, and we released the Maestro Aznavour coffee trio in 2021. It resonated with French-Armenians and, of course, with the Russian-Armenian diaspora, who have a strong appreciation for fine porcelain."
"Sergei Parajanov"

Next came a tribute to Sergei Parajanov. "This one was tough," Lucy admits. "Khachaturian and Aznavour are more straightforward, but Parajanov’s work is layered and complex." She partnered with the Sergei Parajanov Museum to secure rights and find inspiration from his collages. After many design drafts, they settled on a piece featuring his tea rose motif. "Parajanov himself was a porcelain collector, so I felt a huge responsibility to get it right. I often wondered – would he approve of this design?"
Lucy also created a set inspired by Leonid Yengibarov, which reflected her childhood memories of circus performances and acrobatics classes in Yerevan.

Where to Find the Collection
The Legends of Armenia sets are available in select stores across Russia and Armenia, with worldwide shipping options. In Yerevan, you can find them at museum shops, like the Sergei Parajanov Museum and the Aram Khachaturian House-Museum. They are also sold at the Matenadaran and George’s Dom bookstore. They can also be purchased through the Instagram page.
What’s Next?
Lucy is now working with the Komitas Museum-Institute on a new set honoring the legendary composer. The set will reflect the artistic traditions of Komitas’s hometown, Kütahya, and Armenian miniature painting. The first piece, Shushiki, will kick off a fresh series.
She also dreams of creating a tribute to Martiros Saryan, though discussions with his estate are still ongoing. Expanding the Legends of Armenia collection to celebrate more iconic Armenian artists remains one of her long-term goals.
Ceramics with an Armenian Touch
While there’s no shortage of Armenian-themed ceramics, Lucy emphasizes that her work stands apart. "Many products are beautiful but don’t tell our story. Our porcelain respects intellectual property, is factory-made to the highest standards and lasts for over 70 years. Much of what’s out there doesn’t even use authentic Armenian color palettes. For the Komitas set, for instance, we worked closely with Matenadaran experts to ensure the colors were true to Armenian tradition. This isn’t mass production; it’s about preserving heritage while creating something unique."
A Message to the Diaspora
Reflecting on her journey, Lucy has this advice for the Armenian diaspora: "The diaspora has so much potential, and Armenia is the ultimate home base for all Armenians. When you embrace your culture, you naturally contribute to it. I’ve worked in diverse teams, but once I reconnected with my Armenian identity, I felt like an ambassador for our culture. These are challenging times, and I want Armenia to flourish, so I encourage all Armenians to work hard, stay aware, and be proactive. We must protect our state and the homeland of all Armenians around the world.”
By Nare Bejanyan
-
Repat Story22.01.20257 min readConductor Nvart Andreassian: Five Decades of Experience for Armenia
-
Repat Story30.12.20244 min readFrom Russia to Artashat: Building a Future for Youth Football
-
Repat Story25.12.20246 min readSo you don’t end up looking for yourself among strangers in foreign lands…