Amethyst Bead Necklace

In polychrome within a shallow rectangular recess, framed by a red border; both figures shown nimbate, baby Jesus wearing a red chiton and embracing his mother; loop for suspension to reverse. 1.26 kg, 33.5 cm

The background is exposed so that the chalk ground is visible

Ex French gallery, Paris. Accompanied by an old typed and signed letter from the Icon Museum at Autenried Castle near Günzburg.

The icon shows the Mother of God of Fedorovskaya type, one of the variants of the Hodegetria icons. It is a central Russian work from the first half of 19th century A.D. The Fedorovskaya icon of the Mother of God or Virgin of Kostroma is honoured by the Orthodox church as a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary. It is kept in the city of Kostroma, in the Cathedral of Epiphany-Anastasia. Legend attributes its creation to Saint Luke the Evangelist. Its iconography is similar to that of Our Lady of Vladimir. She is also revered as one of the icons of the Romanov house linked to the election in 1613 of the founder of the dynasty Michael Romanov who lived his youth in Kostroma.

Seated on a footed plinth, wearing a robe which exposes his left breast, right leg crossed over the left, holding a goblet in his left hand and a bunch of grapes in his right, naturalistic facial features. 741 grams, 11.3 cm high

Fine condition.

Acquired in the 1980s-1990s. Previously with Mansour Gallery, London W1. Property of a North West London gentleman.

Displaying a crowned shield flanked by mythical leonine creatures in relief, crowned profile bust facing right above with number 6 and reversed 4. 4.2 kg, 27 cm wide



Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.