Loading, please wait...
LOT 0319
Large Veneto-Cretan Icon of Virgin and Child
17TH CENTURY A.D. OR LATER
23 5/8 x 16 3/4 in. (4.3 kg, 60 x 42.5 cm).
A large icon depicting the Virgin holding the Christ on her lap on a gilt background, both nimbate, the haloes with punched foliate decoration; the Virgin wearing a carmine red maphorion embellished with golden embroidery and fringes, elaborate cuffs and neckline to the himation; the Christ seated on the lap, holding his right arm out and making the blessing sign with his hand, left hand holding an open scroll inscribed in Greek πνευμα κυριου επ εμε ου ενεκεν εχρισεν με ευαγγελιζεσθαι πτωχοις απεσταλκεν με for 'The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor' (Luke 4:18-21), the green chiton and orange himation embellished with red folds; Greek inscription 'ΜΡ ΘΥ' for 'Mother of God' flanking the Virgin's halo, 'IC XC' for 'Jesus Christ' to the right of the Child and inside his nimbus 'O Ѿ N' for 'The Only One who always exists'; some restoration.
ProvenanceProperty 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 searcher certificate no.11572-198599.
See Weizmann, K. et al., The Icon, New York, 1982; Psilakis, N., Byzantine Churches and Monasteries of Crete, Heraklion, 1998; Popescu, G.A., Cristiani d'Oriente, spiritualità, arte e potere nell'Europa Post-Bizantina, Milano, 1999; Evans, H.C., The Arts of Byzantium, New York, 2001; Geelmuyden Bulgurlu, V., Ulf, A., Lindgren, N., Bodin, H., Balicka-Witakowska, E., Five essays on icons, Stockholm & Istanbul, 2005; the icon with the Virgin in the attitude of Mother of the Consolation, or in that of Hodegetria, shows similarity with other two icons of the same Cretan Guild, published by Popescu (1999, cat. nn. 144-145); Weizmann (1982, pp.310-315, 318) published a Veneto-Cretan Ritzos icon with stylistic similarities.
FootnotesIn the Orthodox church, the spaces between the columns close to the central doors of the Iconostasis (Holy Doors) are occupied by two proskynesis icons, representing Christ giving his blessings to the right and to the left the Virgin Mary, with or without the infant, or in interceding position known as Virgin Chalkoprateia type.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
LOT 0319
Large Veneto-Cretan Icon of Virgin and Child
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000€5,800 - 8,120 (for guidance only)$6,750 - 9,450 (for guidance only)
-
Northern Italian Gilt Wooden Casket
18th-19th century A.D.Estimate: £4,000 - 6,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £2,000
An architectural gilt wooden casket with hinged lid; the exterior with billeting, egg-and-dart ornament and gadrooning, flowering vegetal schemes over the whole; the two principal faces each with a central heater shield painted with heraldic devices, flanked by robed standing figures holding a book each within a niche and with a palmette motif above; remains of polychrome to the shields and elsewhere. 69.5 x 44.5 cm
English private collection. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11679-199810
The arms are quartered: or an eagle sable; sable a demi-lion rampant or issuant from a fess; sable a mullet of eight points or; or a lion's head erased sable; the repetition of the colours 'or' gold and 'sable' black may be due to the overall colour-scheme of the casket. The timber shows some old insect flight holes and we are advised that this piece has been recently treated with Permethrin, as a precaution. -
Gemstone Collection
19th-20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £176
A mixed group of lapis lazuli, carnelian and other gemstones with intaglio figures of Minerva, Triton and others. 6.63 grams total, 14-18 mm
English private collection. -
Large Russian Anastasis Icon with Twelve Feasts
18th century A.D.Estimate: £500 - 700 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £225
A tempera on wood Anastasis icon with a large central panel surrounded by twelve smaller scenes representing the twelve feasts of the Orthodox church; the central image depicting Christ‘s descent into Hell and Resurrection, the smaller scenes depicting, clockwise from top left: the birth of the Virgin Mary; the presentation of the Virgin Mary to the temple; the Annunciation; the Nativity; the presentation of Christ to the temple; the Epifania (Baptism); the entrance to Jerusalem; the Metamorphosis (Transfiguration); the Exaltation of the Holy Cross; the Ascension; the Holy Trinity (the Pentecost); and the Dormition of the Virgin; inscriptions to the outer border; some restoration. 3.1 kg, 44.5 x 37 cm
Property of a London lady, part of her family's collection.
The Greek term Dodekaorton (Δωδεκαόρθον) designates the twelve most important holidays of the Orthodox Christian liturgical year. They are divided into fixed date holidays and variable date holidays (calculated in relation to Easter). A second division is between the feasts dedicated to Mary and those dedicated to Christ. Each holiday is represented by an image (icon) encoded according to the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. On the day of the celebration, the corresponding icon is placed on a lectern in the center of the church.
