LOT 2132

Russian Orthodox Enamelled Bronze Triptych Icon with Christ, Virgin Mary and Saint John

CIRCA 1820 A.D.

4 in. (553 grams, 10 cm).

Depicting the Deesis divided in three panels, with Jesus Christ at the centre, Saint Mary on the left panel and Saint John the Baptist on the right; God holding the Gospel in his left hand and raising his right hand in blessing; Mary with veiled head and mantle, wearing a maphorion mantle over an embroidered robe and holding a scroll; Saint John, portrayed as an elderly man, wearing a camel-skin robe, winged and holding a bowl containing an infant with flexed legs and raised right hand, the saint’s right hand pointing toward the infant Jesus, his left hand holding a scroll with the prophecy of Isaiah, while the right hand is raised in blessing gesture; Old Slavic inscription around the figures: 'ΙC ΧΡ' (Jesus Christ); 'ΜΡ ϴΥ'(Mother of God), ‘Saint John the Precursor’ (Иоа́нн Предте́ча); the images framed by a pseudo-vegetal and abstract decorations; the instruments of the Passion and the city of Jerusalem on the cover.

Ex David Miller, Hemel Hempstead, London, UK.
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.25819.083, p.50, 25819.142 and 143, pp.63ff., for similar iconography.

The Deisis or Deesis (Деисус, Gk. for “supplication”) was the depiction of the Virgin, John the Baptist and possibly many more saints interceding with Christ on behalf of mankind.