Lot 71D
Russia, ca. 19th century CE. A lovely traveling icon comprised of beautiful visages and hands encased in a gilded silver hinged case representing the Mother of Kazanskaya in the central panel, flanked by archangels. The central image is a version of the Virgin Hodegetria ("She who shows the way") depicting the Mother of God holding the Christ child in one arm, as he makes a blessing gesture. On her shoulders and head, Mary wears a triple, star-shaped cross, which is an ancient Syrian symbol of her virginity - before, during, and following the birth. The exterior of the case is engraved with a pair of seraphim on the front panels and an inscription on the backside. Also visible are hallmarks: 84 indicating sterling silver and a makers mark of BC, most likely for silversmith Viktor Savinkov (1855-1888 CE). Size: 3.625" L x 4.1125" W (9.2 cm x 10.4 cm) opened; 2.25" W (5.7 cm) closed
Curatorial scholar Jeanne Marie Warzeski writes of the Mother of God of Kazan version of the Russian Theotokos, "Per tradition, the prototype of this icon came to Russia from Constantinople in the 1200s. It disappeared after the Tatars besieged the city of Kazan in 1438, and then was dug up in Kazan in 1579 by a girl named Matrona and her mother after the Virgin appeared repeatedly in the girl's dreams, telling her of the buried icon. The Kazan Mother of God later became Russia's symbol of national unity. The icon accompanied soldiers freeing Moscow from the Poles in 1612, and traveled with the troops fighting Napoleon in 1812." ("Windows into Heaven: Russian Icons from the Lilly and Francis Robicsek Collection of Religious Art" catalogue pamphlet, 2014, p. 15)
Provenance: private Santa Fe, New Mexico USA collection
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#124412
- Condition: A few minor scratches to the case. Latch and hinges work well. Painted images are generally excellent.
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