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LOT 2097
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 2097
Russian Wooden Icon with St John the Baptist
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000€1,740 - 2,320 (for guidance only)$2,030 - 2,700 (for guidance only)
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Russian Wooden Icon of the Virgin of Kazan with Silver-Gilt Riza
Circa 1890 A.D.Estimate: £6,000 - 8,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £3,000
Head of Mary with gilded nimbus and russet-coloured veil, standing infant Jesus similarly nimbate with right hand raised in blessing gesture; the Virgin, with veiled head and mantle inclined towards Jesus, the head inclined left, wearing a red-gold maphorion mantle with elaborate golden saltires on the shoulders, over a dark blue robe; the infant facing away to left, supported on Mary's right arm, dressed in blue tunic and wrapped in a red orange shawl, right hand extended towards his mother; on right and left of the Virgin’s head Greek inscriptions 'ΜΡ ΘΥ' (Μήτηρ (τοῦ) Θεοῦ = Mother of God) and over the left shoulder of Mary inscription in Cyrillic 'Казанская Богоматерь Б.М.' (Mother of God of Kazan); over the child an inscription in Greek letters 'ΙϹ ΧϹ' (ΙΗϹΟΥϹ ΧΡΙϹΤΟϹ = Jesus Christ); inside the nimbus of Christ three letters (only two visible) representing the continuous divine self-existence of Christ as God (O ѾN = The Only One who always exists); rectangular wooden board with mounting slots to sides; gilt oklad with draped head-covering and garments, filigree ornament to borders, openwork crown with inset red glass jewel and applied calligraphic panels with enamel detailing. 1.79 kg, 31.5 x 27 cm
Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12925-246336.
This specimen most probably comes from a private aristocratic Russian household. It has a superb quality and consists of a refined representation of the Mother with the Child (Mother of the Consolation), of Kazan. The original icon prototype of this one, also known as the Theotokos of Kazan, is thought to have originated in Constantinople in the 13th century before it was taken to Russia. When the Turks took over Kazan in 1438, the icon was most probably hidden to keep it safe. Ivan the Terrible liberated Kazan in 1552, and the town was destroyed by fire in 1579, after which the icon was found and brought to the Church of Saint Nicholas. It was subsequently stolen in 1904 and never found again, though there are many copies in existence. -
Georgian Bronze Bawdy Pipe Tamper
Circa 18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
Formed as a copulating couple with a dog standing on the head and buttocks of the female; bell-shaped finial with hatched underside. 20.2 grams, 65 mm
Found Lincolnshire, UK. -
Iron Rapier Sword Reproduction
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Comprising a narrow triangular blade with ricasso; cup with band of foliage ornament below the everted rim; slightly S-curved quillons with finger-ring; barrel grip with ribbed pommel. 1.09 kg, 105 cm
From a private Tyneside collection, formed since the early 2000s.
