'Our Lady of the Flames' Figural Scene

Showing Christ Pantocrator (Lord of the Universe) making a blessing gesture with the right hand, the left hand holding the gospel, covered with an elaborate silver oklad marked 84, with repoussé and chased decoration, incised Cyrillic inscription on the Gospel, and on the bottom an incised Cyrillic inscription 'Господь Вседержитель'= Lord Almighty. 498 grams, 22.5 x 18 cm



Property of a London, UK, gentleman collector. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

This fine Russian religious work depicts Christ Pantocrator, ‘Almighty’ or ‘All Powerful’. It is a compound word formed from the Greek words for ‘all’ and the noun ‘strength’ (kratos). In Orthodox Christianity, his icon is one of the most common religious images. The 'oklad', or protective covering of the icon, was made from silver, often gilt, sometimes with cloisonné enamel decorations, and always decorated with geometric floral patterns. The style of Christ recalls the work of Ivan Semenovich Gubkin, an embosser active in Russia at the beginning of 20th century.

Carved in the round, hips and groin of a female with cloth to the rear. 76 grams, 62 mm



Acquired on the UK art market, before 2000. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Showing the standing Taxiarches (commanders of the Heavenly Army) Michael (A[rchangel] M[ichael]) and Gabriel (A[rchangel] G[abriel]); Michael dressed in pseudo-Roman scale armour worn over a garment with hanging pteryges, partially covered by his military cloak, the raised right hand holding a sword and the left hand resting on a shield; Gabriel dressed in long mantion (a cloak fastened under the neck), long court dress with embroidery, holding the messenger’s flower in one hand and the Globe of the Divine Power over the world in the other; floral frame; fabric mark in Turkish and Greek (ω) near the right shoulder of Saint Michael. 285 grams, 16.2 x 12 cm



Property of a London, UK, gentleman collector. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The icon is from a Constantinople workshop circa 1860 A.D. During the Turkokratia (the Turkish domination) the Orthodox inhabitants of Constantinople continued to entrust their protection to the powerful military commanders of the Heavenly Host, the Archangels. Following the Slavic style, the icons were often covered by embossed silver plates (riza), generally reproducing the same figures on the painted wood.