Bronze Statuette Group

Depicting nimbate Mary Theotokos with veiled head and wearing a maphorion mantle over a dark blue robe with gold cuffs, inclined towards the infant Jesus supported by her right hand, his left arm wrapped around her neck and the right hand resting on her chest; gilt field and border with colourful enamelled detailing to the corners, roundels and rectangles with monograms and titling, on each side of her head 'ΜΡ ΘΥ' (Μήτηρ (τοῦ) Θεοῦ = Mother of God), over her left shoulder Cyrillic inscription 'Влади́мирская Б.М.' (Vladimir Mother of God), over the child inscription in Greek letters 'ΙϹ ΧϹ' (ΙΗϹΟΥϹ ΧΡΙϹΤΟϹ = Jesus Christ), three letters (only two visible) inside the nimbus of Christ representing the continuous divine self-existence of Christ as God ('O ѾN' = The Only One who always exists); Moscow School. 6.5 kg, 56.5 x 46 cm

Fine condition.

Ex property of a London lady, part of her family's collection. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate no. 11543-196361.

This splendid specimen was probably originally housed in an aristocratic Russian home. The icon of the Virgin Mother of Vladimir with the infant Jesus (the original preserved in the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow), probably the most famous icon of all of Russia, was thought to have been created in Constantinople in the early part of 1100s. This image is sometimes referred to as the ‘tenderness icon’, with artists attempting to show the close relationship of mother and son with their cheeks touching as they embrace.

Irregular panels of painted glass mounted in lead cames; one depicting Gothic architectural features including a conical turret roof with a gilt crown above, quatrefoil panel in a window spandrel, curled and scrolled embellishments; the other, a group of winged angels in flight, descending with sky in the background. 5.2 kg total, 46-52 cm



Acquired from Hight Road Auctions, Chiswick, UK, in 2013. Property of a Kent collector.

Including two with pointed toe, pierced to accept stitching to attach the upper. 120 grams total, 18.5 - 23.1 cm



Found Billingsgate spoil from the Thames foreshore, London, UK, circa 1984. Property of an Essex collector.