Wedding icons Moscow silver in cloisonne technique

Description

Wedding icons: Mother of God with the Child and Christ Pantocrator

Wedding icons play a central role in the Russian Orthodox tradition. They stand for the divine blessing and protection that should accompany the bridal couple on their journey through life together. The most important icons include the Mother of God with the child for the role of the woman in marriage and Christ Pantocrator for the man. During the wedding ceremony, the Orthodox priest holds these icons over the heads of the bride and groom – a symbolic ritual intended to bring the divine presence into the marriage and serve as spiritual support for the couple.

The icons presented here date from around 1900 and are made in the Art Nouveau style. Their exceptional craftsmanship is reflected in their precise design: they consist of wooden panels covered with fine fabric and painted with oil paints. They are complemented by masterfully crafted silver oklades, some with fire gilding.

A special highlight are the filigree halos, which were worked with cloisonne enamel in the finest Art Nouveau style. These details not only underline the high artistic standards, but their exceptional quality is also an indication of the high social status of the couple who owned such icons.

Responsible for the silver work was Alexander Smirnov, Moscow 1896 “Алехандер Смирнов” stamp AC, an important silver master whose works were particularly popular with the Russian upper class. They were often chosen as wedding gifts and embodied both craftsmanship and the spiritual values of the Orthodox Church. The icons also bear the mark of the Moscow inspection administration with the initials of the inspection administrator Ivan Sergeiyevich Lebedkin “Ищан Сергеиыещитсцх Лебедкин”, active from 1896 to 1908.

The individual icons each measure 17.8 cm x 14.5 cm.

The kiot box, which was specially built for the icons in an onion dome shape typical of Russia, is made of softwood and veneered with Russian ice birch.

A glazed door with a lockable lock allows the owner to remove the wedding icons.

The dimensions of the wooden box are 61.3 cm high x 46.8 cm wide x 5.5 cm deep.

The wedding icons are not only an expression of deeply rooted religious traditions, but also exceptional collector’s items.

Its excellent state of preservation makes it a rare treasure.

A museum collector’s item!