Russian Orthodox Enamelled Bronze Travel Icon with Saint Julyttas and Her Son Cyricus

19TH CENTURY A.D.

5 1/4 in. (325 grams, 13.5 cm).

With polychrome enamel in green, blue and yellow, framed by a square border with pointed doom, representing Saint Julyttas and her son Cyricus, surrounded by Saints; on the top, Christ Pantokrator, nimbate, making the gesture of blessing and holding a Gospel, seated upon a cloud and surrounded by Cyrillic letters 'ΙC ΧΡ' (Jesus Christ); Cyrillic inscriptions above some of the saints.

Provenance

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.

Literature

Cf. Eighme Ahlborn, R., Beaver-Bricken Espinola, V., Russian Copper Icons and crosses from the Kunz Collection: Castings of Faith, Washington, 1991, no.25819.206, p.70, for a similar iconography.

Footnotes

Made of bronze with brightly coloured enamels, this icon was intended for private devotion, often carried by pilgrims and Orthodox believers for spiritual protection. St. Julyttas and her son Cyricus (Ки́рик и Иули́тта), among the most venerated figures in Russian tradition, are depicted in the centre, surrounded by other saints, a symbol of the communion of the righteous.

CONDITION

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LOT 2104