The wooden background with an openwork oklad: the Virgin holding the infant Christ, gesturing towards him with her left hand, wearing an embellished floral embroidery, elaborate cuffs to the himation; Christ, seated upon the right arm of Mary, embracing his mother tenderly, his chiton embellished with a sash with geometric patterns; both figures nimbate with elaborate halos, inscription 'ΜΡ ΘΥ' for 'Mother of God' flanking the Virgin's halo, 'IC XC' for 'Jesus Christ' on the other side; winged nimbate ‘Angel of God’ and nimbate Saint Ekaterina in rectangular panels on either side; the reverse with a seal of ‘Εργαστήριο Βυζαντινών Εικόνων, Θεσσαλονίκη’ (Workshop for Byzantine Icons, Thessaloniki).On the bottom of the icon the Greek word A.E, ΘEC – IC, probably for A[RGYRON] E[RGASTERION] THES[SALONIKI]. i.e. laboratory of silver Thessaloniki. [No Reserve]

PROVENANCE:
Acquired in Germany.
Property of RWM Collection.

LITERATURE:
Cf. Geelmuyden Bulgurlu, V., Ulf, A., Lindgren, N., Bodin, H., Balicka-Witakowska, E., Five essays on icons, Stockholm & Istanbul, 2005, fig.2, p.92, for similar.

FOOTNOTES:
The icon shows the Virgin in the attitude of Mother of Consolation, or in that of Hodegetria. This is the iconographical type of Virgin Mary one encounters most frequently in an Eastern Orthodox Church or home, Hodegetria meaning 'Mother of God Pointing the Way'. The Virgin Mary is shown with the Christ on her lap, looking at the viewer and her right hand indicating Christ, seeming to say 'Follow Him'.