A Russian Orthodox icon depicting the Smolensk Mother of God, also known as the Hodegetria type, with the Mother of God holding the Christ Child close to her. The painted icon is set beneath a silver oklad, leaving the faces and hands visible.

The silver oklad is finely embossed and engraved with stylised drapery, geometric borders and ornamental corner motifs. The halo is decorated with an openwork pierced border, giving the icon a particularly refined appearance. The reverse is covered with textile.

The oklad bears Moscow assay marks for 1883, 84 zolotnik silver standard, the mark of assayer Viktor Savinkov, and the maker’s mark ЛЕГ. The maker’s mark is recorded here as read from the object; the full identification of the master is not confirmed.

Origin:
Russian Empire, Moscow.

Period:
1883.

Subject:
Smolensk Mother of God / Hodegetria.

Material:
Painted icon, silver oklad, textile backing.

Technique:
Oil painting or tempera on panel, repoussé, engraving, piercing, silver mounting.

Decoration:
Embossed and engraved silver oklad with ornamental border, stylised drapery, openwork halo and corner motifs.

Marks:
Moscow assay marks for 1883.
84 zolotnik silver standard.
Assayer Viktor Savinkov.
Maker’s mark ЛЕГ.

Dimensions:
18 × 15 × 2.5 cm.

Weight:
284 g.

Condition:
Age-related wear, patina, oxidation, rubbing, surface marks and wear to the oklad and painted areas. Textile backing with age-related staining and wear. The condition is shown in the photographs.

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The three saints are shown standing frontally against a gilded ground, each identified by a Cyrillic inscription above the figure. In the upper part of the icon, Christ appears in blessing from the clouds, emphasizing the heavenly protection and sacred character of the composition. The border is richly ornamented in a decorative late 19th-century style, with gilded and coloured details.

Gurias, Samonas and Abibus are venerated in the Orthodox Church as holy martyrs and confessors. In Russian tradition they were especially invoked as protectors of marriage, family life and domestic harmony, and icons of the three saints were often kept for private devotion.

The icon is painted on a wooden panel. The reverse shows age-related wear, losses to the ground layer and traces of old mounting or hanging.

Material:
Wood, tempera / painting, gilding.

Origin:
Russia.

Period:
Late 19th century.

Subject:
Holy Martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Abibus.

Dimensions:
18 × 14.8 × 2 cm.

Condition:
Age-related wear, craquelure, paint losses, rubbing to the gilding and painted surface, chips and losses along the edges. The reverse shows losses to the ground layer, old wear and traces of mounting. Condition is shown in the photographs.

The post Russian Icon of the Holy Martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, Late 19th Century first appeared on Antique weapons, collectibles, silver, icons, bronze, swords, daggers...