Marble Head of a Bearded Man

With blue, yellow, white and green enamel, representing the Anastasis (Resurrection of Christ); the Saviour represented on two registers, in the upper one (Resurrection) emerging from the grave, surrounded by the hesychastic light, with the Roman soldiers falling asleep, and the apostles and a cherubin beside him; in the lower register (Descent into Hades) Christ surrounded by the same divine light, leading the people from the Limbo, Adam and Eve, King David and Salomon and other souls to heaven; the frame decorated with gilt arabesques on blue enamel, inscriptions in Old Slavonic at the top. 200 grams, 11 cm



Acquired from Chris Martin-Zakheim, Iconastas, 5 Piccadilly Arcade, London SW1. From the private collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the early 2000s.

The iconography is typical of the Anastasis or Resurrection of Christ, with the gates of Hades broken under the feet of the Christ, echoing the phrase: 'Christ is Risen From the Dead, Trampling Down Death by Death, and Upon Those in the Tombs Bestowing Life!'

Each hollow-formed and piriform in plan with high-relief mask, foliage and other detailing. 908 grams total, 11.5-22.5 cm



Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK.

Comprising a painted board with mounting panel and slots to the reverse, gessoed surface with painting of St John the Baptist standing nimbate with wings spread behind him, left hand supporting a bowl containing his severed head and holding an unfurled scroll with Cyrillic text 'Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,' (Matthew 3:2); right hand raised in blessing; landscape with sand-dunes and trees; gilded title above; the upper border with gilt Slavonic inscription reading 'Holy John the Forerunner'; from the Palekh Icon School, probably made in Mstera circa 1890. 1.02 kg, 31 cm high

Fine condition.

Ex property of a London lady, part of her family's collection. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate no.11546-196366.

The Palekh icon school emerged in the 17th century, inspired by the Moscow and Suzdal traditions of icon painting. Although preserving many features of traditional Russian iconography, the school created its own style that remained active into the 18th century. The hallmarks of the school include the frequent use of gold on the clothes of the saints and a rich palette. Bodies are shown as tall and slender and abrupt transitions between light and shadow are distinctive features of Palekh icons. The wings of Saint John derive from the double meaning of the Greek word used to describe him in Mark 1:2 - Angelos, meaning both messenger and angel. John is often called a 'Heavenly Man' and 'Earthly Angel' in Orthodoxy. At his feet is shown a small tree with an axe cutting into it, illustrating Luke 3:9, 'And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the tree...'