Eastern Europe, Russia, ca. 19th century CE. A fine pair of enameled brass travelling icons: a quadriptych showing the liturgical feasts and a relief plaque of Saint Martyr Varus. Popular amongst the Old Believers, the quadriptych consists of 4 panels that can be folded into each other, allowing the piece to be more portable. The 3 panels from the left depict the twelve major festival scenes. These include the Annunciation, Nativity of Christ, Birth of the Virgin, Presentation of the Virgin, Presentation of the Christ Child, Baptism of Christ, Christ's Entry into Jerusalem, Transfiguration of Christ, Anastasis (meaningResurrection), Ascension of Christ, Dormition of the Virgin, and the Crucifixion of Christ. The last panel on the right is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and includes figures worshipping 4 famous icons: the Hodegetria, Vladimir, Znamenie, and Theodorovskaya icons. Relief imagery of a Russian cross, scroll motifs, and inscriptions also embellish the front panel of the exterior. Size of open quadriptych: 14.6" W x 6.4" H (37.1 cm x 16.3 cm)

Alternatively, the relief plaque displays the image of Saint Varus who was an early Christian saint, soldier, and martyr that died in 304 CE. Varus was tasked with guarding 7 monks awaiting execution, but after witnessing the death of one, his Christian faith was reinvigorated and he decided to join them. For this, he was tortured and his body was hung from a tree. During the Time of Troubles, many children of Russian Orthodox families were dying before they could be baptized. This led Patriarch Hermogenes of Moscow to declare that the Canon of Saint Varus should be sung in churches on behalf of dead, unbaptized children. This makes Varus a popular saint in Russia, as he is remembered as an intercessor on behalf of the suffering Russian people.

Provenance: private Louisville, Colorado, USA collection

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#184339

Some small chips to peripheries of quadriptych. Both have some light surface wear as shown, but otherwise both are intact and excellent with nice preservation of detail.