A RARE ICON OF THE HOLY PRINCE VSEVOLODSTAMP OF VASILY GURYANOV ON THE REVERSE, EARLY 20TH CENTURY, OKLAD STAMPED WITH MAKER`S MARK OF ANTIP KUZMICHEV IN CYRILLIC, MOSCOW, 1899-1908, 84 STANDARD.31.5 by 27 cm.Provenance: Acquired by the previous owner from the heirs of Vsevolod Rudnev in Paris in the 1960s. Private collection, Europe. Related Literature: For St Vsevolod iconography, see Pravoslavnaya entsiklopedia (Orthodox Encyclopaedia), Moscow, 2005, vol. 9, pp. 549-550. For an example of a similar Olovyanishnikov shirt, see Religioznoe iskusstvo: sbornik rabot tserkovnoi i grazhdanskoi utvari, vypolnennoi Tovarischestvom P.I. Olovyanishnikova synovya. 1901-1911 (Religious Art: Collection of Religious and Civil Works by the P.I. Olovyanishnikov and Sons Manufactory. 1901-1911), Moscow, 1911, p. 160.This precious commissioned image by the well-known Imperial icon painter, V.P. Guryanov, depicts Vsevolod (baptised Gavriil) Prince of Novgorod, c. 1095-1138; the eldest son of Mstislav (Feodor) and eldest grandson of Vladimir Monomakh, Prince of Kiev. Local veneration of the Prince as a saint was established by the late 12th century and his canonisation took place in 1549. Icons depicting Prince Vsevolod are few in number – the well-known ones mainly show the saint full-length, holding the Pskov Trinity Cathedral – the church he founded and where he is buried. The only other known icon of “The Blessed Prince St. Vsevolod, baptised Gavriil, Miracle-worker of Pskov” from the turn of the 20th century, was produced in 1900 by another eminent icon-painter, M.I. Dikarev, as one of a calendar series for the chapel of the Marble Palace, St. Petersburg. This icon by Guryanov is one of the best examples of tempera painting in the late 19th and early 20th century; the face, rendered in a laboriously detailed hatching technique and the rich finish to the shirt, cloak and princely cap are all evidence that the icon was commissioned for a wealthy patron or as a valuable commemorative gift. Furthermore, it was planned from the outset that the image should be adorned by an oklad. The object’s high value is also evident in the masterly execution of the chased silver framework and the expensive gold brocade ‘shirt’ by the Olovyanishnikov factory. A unique feature of the oklad is the separate silver plating on the sword, which not only emphasises the saint’s princely origins but also reminds the viewer of an actual relic – Prince Vsevolod’s original sword – which until 1917 was kept on the saint’s tomb at the Trinity Cathedral in Pskov. The oklad was manufactured by A.I. Kuzmichev, the owner of a major jewellery workshop in Moscow. This master jeweller was the only one in pre-revolutionary Russia to have had official contracts with Tiffany & Co, the famous American jewellers. Although the icon has no presentation plate, it was undoubtedly intended for a person with the same name as the saint. According to its last owner, the icon was acquired in France in the 1960s from the heirs of V.F. Rudnev, a naval hero of the Russo-Japanese War. A number of considerations support the oral evidence that the artefact belonged to Rear Admiral (1905) Vsevolod Feodorovich Rudnev (1855-1913), Captain of the illustrious cruiser Varyag, which under his command, took on her unequal fight at the Battle of Chemulpo. The first consideration is that the name Vsevolod was relatively uncommon at the turn of the 20th century. Secondly, the depiction of the saint as a Warrior Prince, suggests the recipient’s affiliations were in the military sphere. Thirdly, the Rudnev family’s move to France may explain why the icon appeared on the western antique market. And fourthly, the presentation of this icon may have coincided with a ceremony for the heroes of the Russo-Japanese War in Moscow, 14th April, 1904. Among the events was a dinner in honour of the officers of Varyag at the English Club and a copy of the menu bears the signature of V.F. Rudnev. During the ceremonies, the Commanding Officer of Varyag may well have been presented, in accordance with tradition, with a valuable icon of his saintly Warrior Prince namesake. Coincidentally, 2013 also marks the centenary of the Rear Admiral’s death. So, offered here at auction is not only an artefact of high artistic culture with rare iconography, but also an exceptional commemorative object in terms of its historical significance. "
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A SILVER-GILT PANAGIAMAKER`S MARK PEF IN CYRILLIC, MOSCOW, 1899-1908, 84 STANDARD.Length 15 cm.Oval form, with inset silver-gilt eight-pointed star with one diamante mounted on each ray, with the Iverskaya Mother of God painted on the mother-of-pearl central plate, surrounded by a row of diamante, further embellished with red and green rhinestones and a matching pendant, surmounted with a conforming jewelled crown, with a suspension hook on the reverse, in the original case."
*THE KURSKAYA KORENNAYA MOTHER OF GOD AND SELECTED SAINTS WITH A SILVER-GILT OKLADPOVOLZHYE, OLD BELIEVERS` WORKSHOP, DATED 1819, OKLAD STAMPED WITH MAKER`S MARK I.CH IN CYRILLIC, MOSCOW, 1828, 84 STANDARD.43.5 by 37 cm.The original Kursk icon of the Theotokos “of the Sign” (the Kurskaya Korennaya Mother of God) is among the Wonder-Working images of the Mother of God that are particularly revered. All known copies reproduce the additions made to the icon in 1597 when Tsar Feodor Ivanovich decreed that this holy relic of Kursk should be framed with depictions of the Lord Sabaoth, the Prophets David, Moses, Isaiah and Gideon (left); Solomon, Daniel, Ezekiel and Elijah (right) and Habbakuk (below), all holding scrolls of their prophesies concerning the Mother of God. Supplementing the icon with images of the Prophets symbolised the link between the Old and New Testaments and gave a deep theological meaning to the central image. The renewed image was distinguished not only by the thought given to its execution, but also by its integrity of composition: the Prophets faces are turned towards the Theotokos and framed within a stylised vine, a symbol of Christian faith, based on Christ’s parable: “I am the true vine” (John 15: 1). A special feature of this icon is the transformation of the vine into lavish garlands of flowers. The original Kursk Theotokos “of the Sign” is a token of protection for Russian warriors, particularly the Cossacks, and since the 1920s it has been a major sacred object for Russian Orthodox living far from Russia. Thus, it became a symbol of unity for the Russian Church Abroad. The piece offered here is a cherished family icon, written by a highly-skilled Old Believer icon painter, possibly from the Pavlovona-Oke region, the lower right border has the inscription: “Painted 1819”. The borders have depictions of a Guardian Angel and the family name saints of the commissioner. The oklad was made in Moscow in 1828 in the classicizing style of the day. Both the icon and its oklad may be regarded as fine examples of several phenomena in the arts of the early 19th century: the preservation of Old Russian icon painting by Old Believer masters, the influence of a popular art aesthetic on their work and the creative opportunities that classicism afforded the masters of decorative applied art."
*A SILVER CRUCIFIXMAKER`S MARK K.D. IN CYRILLIC, MOSCOW, 1895, 84 STANDARD.33 by 20.5 cm.The inscription on the reverse states that the crucifix was made to commemorate the coronation of Nicholas II and given to the Church of the Dormition in village Grushki, Podolsky province.
AN IMPERIAL PRESENTATION SILVER CIGARETTE CASEMAKER`S MARK M(?) IN CYRILLIC, ST PETERSBURG, 84 STANDARD.10 by 6.5 cm, weight 245 g.The hinged lid applied with an elaborate silver Imperial eagle, with red and blue enamel letters “PO” in Cyrillic and number “17”, concealed compartment under the lid containing an old photograph of a group of officers and dated "22.VII.16" on the reverse, the end of the cigarette case with a double-lidded vesta compartment; tinder cord missing, gilt interior.
Quantity of mainly silver English and Great Britain circulated coins: 5 shillings 1691, 1820, 2/6d 1697, 1707E, 1836, Shilling, 1826, 1834, sixpence 1696, 1711, 1746LIMA, 1757, 1834 fourpence 1699, 1710, Boulton & Watt Cartwheekl 2d and 1ds Irish halfpenney 1723
Six knives with silver handles (marks rubbed), a small collection of silver plated cutlery, a silver plated pocket watch titled "Acme Lever" by H. Samuel, Manchester, a black necklace, a Art Nouveaux miniature copper photograph frame, and a small quantity of ceramics to include a tea pot by Arthur Wood
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