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LOT 0381
Russian Wooden Icon with St John the Baptist
19TH CENTURY A.D.
12 1/4 in. (1.02 kg, 31 cm high).
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.
ProvenanceEx 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.
See Zinoviev, N., Art of Palekh, Leningrad, 1968.
FootnotesThe 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...'
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LOT 0381
Russian Wooden Icon with St John the Baptist
Estimate £3,000 - 4,000€3,480 - 4,640 (for guidance only)$4,050 - 5,400 (for guidance only)
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Mixed Bronze Weight Collection
18th-20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £20
Including discoid type with flange rim, heart-shaped, teardrop and other types. 223 grams total, 13-38 mm
Ex Simmons gallery, 1990s. From a North London, UK, collection. -
Phoenician Style Glass Bead and Pendant Necklace
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
Mixed group including tubular and spherical beads, claw-shaped pendants and a mask with applied detailing. 80.5 grams, 22 cm long
From an old English deceased estate. Acquired on the London art market in the early 1990s. Property of a London, UK, collector. -
Ethiopian Wooden Icon with Paintings of Saints
Mid 17th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £975
Carved portable icon with integral loop, frontal and rear recesses each with a door hinged with thread; painted scenes within of the Crucifixion and the meeting of Saint Abune Tekle Haimanot and Gabra Manfas Keddus (?), St. George attacking a dragon, Mary and Infant Jesus with angels Gabriel and Michael. 91 grams, 10 cm high
Reece Gallery, c. 2010. Ex central London gallery.
A series of icons representing the Virgin of Santa Maria Maggiore were produced in Ethiopia in the 16th and 17th centuries; the icon offered here is one such example. Sitting on the left arm of his mother, Christ gives a blessing with his right hand and holds a book in his left hand, both details showing a close relationship with the Santa Maria Maggiore version.
