Western Asiatic Style Stone Artefact Group

With veiled head and wearing a fringed golden maphorion mantle over a dark blue robe with gold cuffs, inclined towards the infant Jesus supported by her right hand; monograms and titling, on each side of her head 'ΜΡ ΘΥ' (Μήτηρ (τοῦ) Θεοῦ = Mother of God), over the child inscription in Greek letters 'ΙϹ ΧϹ' (ΙΗϹΟΥϹ ΧΡΙϹΤΟϹ = Jesus Christ), three letters (only two visible) inside the nimbus of Christ representing the continuous divine self-existence of Christ as God ('O ѾN' = The Only One who always exists); rectangular wooden board with mounting bar to reverse; Moscow School; old label on the back with inscription in Dutch 'A209 Moeder Gods van Wladimir'. 1.3 kg, 35.7 x 31 cm



Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK.

The original icon prototype of these smaller icons was the icon of the Virgin Mother of Vladimir with the infant Jesus (the original preserved in the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow), probably the most famous icon of Russia, which was thought to have been created in Constantinople in the early part of 1100s. This image is sometimes referred to as the ‘tenderness icon’, with artists attempting to show the close relationship of mother and son with their cheeks touching as they embrace.

Hollow-formed D-section hoop with columnar bezel, inset jasper gemstone engraved with a portrait female bust. 7.06 grams, 30.43 mm overall, 19.60 mm internal diameter (approximate size British T, USA 9 1/2, Europe 21.26, Japan 20)



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.

Comprising: a circular intaglio with leaping Pegasus on a baseline; a rectangular intaglio with a female bust; an oval intaglio with letter 'M'; an oval intaglio with a male head in profile. 8 grams total, 11-20 mm



Norfolk family collection, 1940s-1960s; thence by descent.