Lot 291A
Eastern Europe, Russia, Orthodox Christian, ca. 19th century CE. A richly narrative group of five Russian Orthodox brass icons, each a small theater of faith cast in metal and brightened with enamel, invites close looking and quiet reflection. The largest plaque centers on Saint Nicholas, the miracle-working bishop of Myra, revered across Eastern Christendom as a protector of sailors, children, and the poor, here rendered with raised blessing hand and Gospel book, his authority framed by luminous enamel that once caught candlelight in a domestic shrine. Another panel depicts Saint Julitta and her young son Saint Cyricus, early Christian martyrs whose story tells of steadfast belief in the face of Roman persecution, the child said to have boldly declared his faith before suffering martyrdom alongside his mother, a theme of innocence and conviction captured in the tender pairing of their figures. Size of largest (Saint Nicholas): 2.1" W x 3.6" H (5.3 cm x 9.1 cm)
A third icon shows the Guardian Angel accompanied by Saints Zosima and Sabbatius, founders of the Solovetsky Monastery in the remote northern reaches of Russia, where monastic endurance met the harsh beauty of the White Sea; their inclusion speaks to spiritual guidance, protection, and the ascetic ideal of withdrawal from the world. In contrast, the unenameled plaque of Saint Antipas of Pergamon presents a more austere vision, honoring the early bishop and martyr mentioned in the Book of Revelation, whose steadfast resistance to pagan worship led to his execution, making him a symbol of unwavering faith. At the center rests a finely cast crucifix, Christ elongated across the cross, his suffering both human and divine, anchoring the group with the core narrative of sacrifice and redemption that underlies all Orthodox devotion. Together, these icons form a portable constellation of belief, where saints, martyrs, and monastic founders converge in brass and enamel, objects not merely decorative but lived with, handled, kissed, and carried, their surfaces worn by time and touch, their presence a quiet echo of prayer across generations.
Provenance: private Thousand Oaks, California, USA collection, acquired 1970s to 2000s; three: ex-Skinner Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, USA, January 12, 2009, Auction number 2394, lot number 731
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#198144
- Condition: Four were likely part of triptychs or other multi-piece devotional sets. Small area of loss to bottom of Saints Zosima and Sabbatius panel. Some bending, nicks, and abrasions throughout. Otherwise, good remaining detail and enamel with rich patina.
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