Icon of Christ Pantocrator with a gilt silver oklad, produced by the factory of Ivan Semyonovich Gubkin in Moscow in 1865. The icon depicts the half-length image of Christ according to traditional Orthodox iconography, with His right hand raised in blessing and the open Gospel held in His left hand. The painting is executed in the academic manner of the second half of the 19th century, distinguished by the soft modelling of the face, harmonious symmetry of the composition and profound spiritual expression of the image. The colour palette is based on a combination of rich red and blue-green tones of the vestments, emphasizing the solemn character of this iconographic work.
The icon is set within a finely crafted gilt silver oklad created by the Moscow factory of Ivan Semyonovich Gubkin, one of the renowned Russian silver manufacturers of the Imperial period. The surface of the oklad is decorated with elaborate repoussé floral ornamentation, characteristic of Russian artistic historicism of the mid-19th century. The deep relief of the repoussé work, precise detailing of the decorative elements and quality of craftsmanship reflect the high standards of Moscow silversmithing of this period.
Hallmarks: Workshop mark “ИГ” in Cyrillic, corresponding to the factory of Ivan Semyonovich Gubkin; Moscow Assay Office mark with the initials of the assay master “АС” and the date “1865”; official silver assay mark indicating the “84” silver standard.
Dimensions: 32 × 26.5 cm.
Condition: Good condition. The painted surface displays a natural craquelure pattern consistent with the age of the work. Minor damage to the borders of the oklad is present.
Provenance: Private collection.
Ivan Semyonovich Gubkin was among the notable representatives of Moscow silversmithing in the 19th century, whose works reflected the development of national artistic tendencies within Russian decorative and applied arts. His factory specialised in the production of high-quality ecclesiastical and secular objects, combining traditional craftsmanship with the aesthetics of historicism, which became widely established during the second half of the 19th century.
Silver oklads for icons occupied a special place in Russian jewellery and metalwork of this period. They were regarded not only as protective coverings for sacred images, but also as independent works of artistic silver. Moscow craftsmen developed the traditions of Old Russian ornamental art, employing repoussé work, engraving, gilding and complex decorative compositions that enhanced the sacred significance of the icon.
The iconography of Christ Pantocrator is one of the central themes of Orthodox Christian art. The image of Christ with His blessing hand and the Gospel symbolises His role as Heavenly King, Teacher and Judge of the world. During the 19th century, such representations often combined the canonical Byzantine tradition with the academic painting style characteristic of the artistic culture of the Russian Empire.
Silver oklads produced by Moscow workshops of the mid-19th century are distinguished by their high quality of execution and reference to historical artistic traditions. Floral motifs, ornamental symmetry and the rich modelling of repoussé decoration reflected the renewed interest in the heritage of Russian ecclesiastical art and national decorative forms.
Works from the factory of Ivan Semyonovich Gubkin are today valued by collectors as examples of the exceptional craftsmanship of Moscow silversmiths. They demonstrate the union of Orthodox spiritual tradition, academic icon painting and the refined artistic treatment of silver characteristic of Russian art of the second half of the 19th century.
The icon is in good condition with natural signs of age. The painted surface shows characteristic craquelure. The gilt silver oklad retains its decorative appearance, with minor damage visible to the borders.
The condition report is provided for informational purposes only.
It is not comprehensive and may not reflect all defects, restorations, alterations, or adaptations, as Antiqon does not perform professional conservation-level assessments. The information is based on a qualified, yet subjective, evaluation by our specialists.Before purchasing, we recommend consultation with an independent expert.Please also consult our Terms and conditions and Glossary A-Z, which contain important information on lot characteristics and sale conditions.
