Eastern Europe, Russia, ca. 1800 CE. A matched pair of icons in gesso and egg tempera on wood adorned by stunning gilded silver oklads. One icon depicts Mary - the Mother of God - tenderly holding the infant Jesus; the other depicts Joseph with an upraised right hand that may have once carried a blossoming staff symbolizing God's selection of Saint Joseph as the betrothed of the Blessed Virgin. Both images, in addition to being finely painted, are covered in elaborate gilded silver oklads modeled in repousse; note how the metalsmith delineated their flowing, voluminous vestments which are liberally embellished with intricate floral patterns, their delicately cut and detailed radiating haloes, the checkerboard flooring below perhaps to suggest perspective, and the ornate integral frames boasting mesmerizing foliage motifs. A stunning pair of pendant icons representing the members of the Holy Family. Size: 17.75" W x 40.5" H (45.1 cm x 102.9 cm)

Icons (icon means "image" in Greek) are sacred objects within the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition. Found in homes as well as churches, these painted images depict holy persons and saints as well as illustrate scenes from the Scriptures. Some icons are encased in precious metal covers (oklads) like these examples. The oklad or riza, sometimes referred to as a revetment in English, is a metal cover that not only protects the icon, but also serves to honor or venerate the figure(s) depicted on the icon. Oklads are usually adorned with repousse work and pierced to reveal elements of the underlying painting as we see here. Icons are not worshiped, but are instead venerated for their ability to focus the power of an individual's prayer to God. As such they are truly "windows into heaven."

Provenance: private Santa Fe, New Mexico USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#124421

Painting of Mary and Jesus shows some areas of pigment loss. Painting of Joseph shows a few small perforations around periphery of his face. Both oklads show surface wear with areas of gilt loss and green patina perhaps from former attachments. Oklads have losses and tears to peripheries, some bending, and two vertical incisions above the images/below the integral frames, perhaps for former attachments, as shown. Versos show missing back slats, several perforations, and age cracks.