18th century AD. A two panel wooden portable camp painted icon, representing six scenes of life of Christ and Saints, divided on three levels: the top level is representing the Resurrection of Christ (top left, Jesus Christ rising from death, standard cross in the left hand, Adam and Eve on his right and left), the Crucifixion (top right, Jesus on the Cross in the middle, Saint Mary and Saint John on sides); the middle level representing Saint Gorgis (Saint George) killing the Dragon and Saint Fasiledes; the third level Saint Tewedros (Theodore) killing the enemy of Faith and Saint Geladios, all four saints on horseback. See Jager, O. and Deininger-Englhart. L., 'Some notes on illuminations of manuscripts in Ethiopia' in Rassegna di Studi Etiopici, Vol. 17, 1961, pp.45-60; The British Library, The Christian Orient, London, 1978, for similar style of icons; Aregay, M.W., 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' in Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No.1, June 1997, pp.31-73. 464 grams total, 32.7-33cm (13"). Ex central London gallery; formerly in a private collection, New York, USA, 1999. As at the time of the Christian Roman Empire, the Ethiopian Emperor went to war with priests and religious symbols of the Orthodox Faith, like this camp icon for personal prayer or for blessing of the army before the battle. The military character of this icon is underlined by the presence of the four principal military Saints of the Orthodox world, Gorgis, Demetrios, Fasiledes and Thewdros, all in the dress of 17-18th century army élite. [2, No Reserve]

Fine condition.