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

Representing the Protection of the Mother of God; the icon within inside a crested kokoshnik (bochka) with triple border; the crest depicting the Trinity, with God the Father and the Son sitting and facing each other across an orb and crucifix; a dove, symbolising the Holy Spirit, hovering above the crucifix; the Trinity inscribed inside a crown of flying angels, sitting at his feet the four living creatures, the Cherubins symbolising the Evangelists: the Lion, the Angel, the Eagle and the Ox; inscription in Old Slavonic beneath the crest, the Mother of God standing slightly left, looking toward God the Son in the upper corner; clouds at her feet and around the upper left corner; thirteen Saints and four Angels above them standing around her. 281 grams, 17.1 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 Icon of the Protection of the Mother of God, or Pokrov (in Old Slavonic), celebrates the Virgin Mary, depicting the Mother of God in prayer, wrapped in her mantle, surrounded by angels and saints. The image is a powerful symbol of protection and a reminder of Marian intercessory prayer, centered on protecting the Christian people from adversity and danger.

Depicting the Saviour on the cross, the titulum inscribed in Cyrillic ‘Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews’; long inscriptions in Old Church Slavonic and traditional elements of the ‘Stavrosis’ surrounding the cross: sponge on reed, spear and a skull set on stones marking the site as Golgotha, twisted cords or wire, and the walls of Jerusalem; on the upper part of the cross, angels with cloth-covered hands and over them a frontal view of the torso of God with his arms raised above clouds; inscribed prayers in Old Church Slavonic and file marks on the back of the casting. 65.4 grams, 11.1 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.

Orthodox travel icons were used by the faithful to carry a sacred representation with them during their journeys, offering protection and a constant spiritual connection. The icon features meticulous craftsmanship with intricate details of the Passion and Death of the Saviour, according to the Byzantine iconography.

The crest of Frederick Louis impaling the arms of his late wife, Augusta (1719-1772), daughter of Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha, whom he married in 1736, accompanied by some forty livery and military badges and metalled horse trappings, housed in a glazed wall cabinet with opening front. 21.65 kg, 132 x 68 x 14 cm



Ex Morningthorpe Manor, Norfolk, UK.

The parish of Morningthorpe is situated in south Norfolk, east of Long Stratton and west of Hempnall. The parish was certainly well established by the time of the Norman Conquest, its population, land ownership and productive resources being detailed in the Domesday Book of 1086.