KAZAN ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD IN A SILVER GILT OKLAD P. A. OVCHINNIKOV FACTORY, MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1890

A rare and highly expressive Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, executed in accordance with the traditions of the Moscow icon-painting school of the late nineteenth century. The sacred image is painted in oil on a wooden panel and enclosed within an exceptional silver gilt oklad produced by the workshops of Pavel Akimovich Ovchinnikov, one of the most distinguished Russian jewellers of the second half of the nineteenth century and Official Supplier to the Imperial Court.

The gilt silver oklad is richly embellished with finely chased and engraved ornamentation of outstanding artistic quality. The borders are decorated with an intricate all-over pattern of stylised rosettes, creating a sumptuous ornamental surface characteristic of the finest examples of Moscow silverwork of the late nineteenth century. The haloes of the Virgin and the Christ Child are executed in high openwork relief with elegant foliate motifs, reinforcing the solemn and sacred character of the image. Particularly noteworthy are the delicately modelled faces, the restrained and harmonious palette, and the refined dialogue between the painted surface and the luminous brilliance of the gilt silver covering. The icon is preserved in its original wooden icon case (kiot), the reverse covered with velvet.

Hallmarks: Makers mark of the firm beneath the Imperial double-headed eagle, «P. Ovchinnikov»; Official Moscow assay mark with the 84 silver standard; Moscow District assay mark; additional hallmarks dating to the period 1889–1896.

Dimensions: 31.5 × 26.5 cm (icon); 34.5 × 30 cm (icon case).

Weight: 1002.8 g.

Condition: Very good condition. The painted surface is free from losses. The silver gilt oklad retains the crispness of its chasing, engraving and gilding. The original icon case has been preserved without significant damage.