The central panel depicts St. Nicholas of Mozhaisk, one of the most recognizable Russian iconographic types of St. Nicholas. He is shown standing frontally, holding a sword in one hand and a church or fortified city in the other. This image presents the saint as a heavenly defender and protector of the faithful. Above the central section is a small panel with the Mandylion / Holy Face of Christ.

The side panels contain small relief images of selected saints, arranged in registers. The icon folds closed for travel and private devotion. Bronze travel icons of this type were widely used in Russia for personal prayer, especially among Old Believer communities, and were valued for their durability, portability and devotional function.

The surface has a warm aged bronze patina with traces of wear from handling and use.

Material:
Cast bronze.

Origin:
Russia.

Period:
19th century.

Dimensions:
Closed: 6.6 × 5.5 cm.
Opened: 6.6 × 9.6 cm.

Condition:
Age-related wear, patina, rubbing, surface marks and traces of use. Hinges and folding construction are visible. Condition is shown in the photographs.

The post Russian Bronze Travel Icon of St. Nicholas of Mozhaisk, 19th Century first appeared on Antique weapons, collectibles, silver, icons, bronze, swords, daggers...

The underlying icon is painted in tempera on wood and is likely to date from the 17th century. Saint Paraskeva is shown frontally, holding a cross as a symbol of her martyrdom. She is flanked above by two angels bearing crowns of glory. The image preserves the expressive intensity of post-Byzantine Balkan icon painting, with strong facial modelling, elongated forms and a solemn spiritual presence.

The icon is covered with a finely worked silver riza, executed in repoussé and chased technique. The riza is richly decorated with Baroque-style ornament, including scrolling acanthus leaves, floral corners, clouds, cartouches and two angels surrounding the saint. The silver cover frames the painted face and hands, emphasizing the sacred image while protecting the original painted surface beneath.

Saint Paraskeva, also known as Paraskevi, is widely venerated in the Orthodox Christian tradition, especially in the Balkans. She is associated with piety, steadfast faith and miraculous intercession. Icons of Saint Paraskeva were particularly revered in domestic, monastic and parish settings.

Inscriptions:
The silver cartouches identify the saint as Saint Paraskeva.

Material:
Icon: tempera on wood.
Riza: silver, repoussé and chased.

Origin:
Balkans.

Period:
Icon: 17th century.
Riza: 18th century.

Dimensions:
32 × 27 × 4.5 cm.

Weight:
Riza weight: 860 g.

Condition:
Age-related wear, oxidation and patina to the silver riza, traces of use, surface rubbing, losses and restoration to the painted icon. The wooden panel shows age cracks and structural wear. Condition is shown in the photographs.

The post Icon of the Holy Martyr Paraskeva with Silver Riza, Balkans, 17th–18th Century first appeared on Antique weapons, collectibles, silver, icons, bronze, swords, daggers...

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.

The post Russian Icon of the Smolensk Mother of God with Silver Oklad, Moscow, 1883 first appeared on Antique weapons, collectibles, silver, icons, bronze, swords, daggers...

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...