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LOT 2316
Russian Orthodox Enamelled Bronze Travel Icon with Anastasis
19TH CENTURY A.D.
4 3/8 in. (200 grams, 11 cm).
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 cherub 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.
ProvenanceAcquired 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.
Cf. Eighme Ahlborn, R., Beaver-Bricken Espinola, V., Russian Copper Icons and crosses from the Kunz Collection: Castings of Faith, Washington, 1991, nos.25819.006, p.43; 055 p.47; 057 p.48, for similar iconography.
FootnotesThe iconography is typical of the Anastasis or Resurrection of Christ, with the gates of Hades broken under the feet of Christ, echoing the phrase: 'Christ is Risen From the Dead, Trampling Down Death by Death, and Upon Those in the Tombs Bestowing Life!'
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:
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LOT 2316
Russian Orthodox Enamelled Bronze Travel Icon with Anastasis
Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
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Stone Head of a Goddess
Likely 19th-20th century A.D. or earlierSold for (Inc. bp): £169
Life-sized female head with abundant wavy hair, covered by the folds of a palla; mounted on a custom-made stand. 21.4 kg total, 45.8 cm high including stand
Private collection, France. -
Georgian Silver Christian 'To You Lord I Lift Up My Soul' Triskele Ring
18th-19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
Flat-section hoop with inner sleeve; voided cross to each shoulder and incised blackletter script legend 'AD TE LEVAVI ANIMAM MEAM' ('To You Lord I Lift Up My Soul'); discoid bezel with beaded rim, high-relief triskele of bent legs with mask to the centre. 12.5 grams, 29.44 mm overall, 21.23 mm internal diameter (approximate size British X, USA 11 1/2, Europe 26.29, Japan 25)
Ex Arundel, East Sussex, UK, private collection, 1970s-2000.
The text is the intro from the first Sunday of Advent. The triskele with central gorgoneion is the heraldic badge of the island of Sicily. -
Russian Wooden Icon with St John the Baptist
19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,430
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...'
