Russian Orthodox Enamelled Bronze Travel Icon with the Birth of the Virgin

19TH CENTURY A.D.

3 7/8 in. (230 grams, 98 mm).

Presenting an architectural setting with figures in two chambers framed with cornices, columns and furnitures; the upper chamber showing Saint Anna in birthing bed with two attendants; the lower room with two attendants bathing an infant; on the right Saint Joachim seated upon a cathedra; Old Slavonic inscription reciting ‘The birth of the most holy mother of God’.

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, nos.25819.174 and 25819.251, pp.68,75, for similar iconography.

Footnotes

According to the Protoevangelium of James, Mary's parents were called Anna and Joachim and conceived Mary at a late age.

CONDITION

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LOT 2045