Lot 0264
Icon of Saint Paraskeva with 18th-Century Silver Riza, Balkans, 17th–18th century
Estimate: 1200-1500€
Icon of the Holy Martyr Paraskeva with Silver Riza
Balkans, 17th–18th century
Icon: tempera on wood, 17th century
Riza: silver, repoussé and chased, 18th century
Dimensions: 32 × 27 × 4.5 cm
Riza weight: 860 g
This remarkable icon represents Saint Paraskeva (Paraskevi) of the Balkans, a revered Christian martyr known for her piety, compassion, and miracles. The saint is depicted holding a cross as a symbol of her martyrdom, flanked by two angels bearing crowns of glory.
The underlying icon, likely dating to the 17th century, retains the expressive intensity of early post-Byzantine Balkan iconography, characterized by elongated proportions, austere modeling, and a deep spiritual gravity.
The silver riza, executed in the 18th century, complements the image with richly embossed baroque ornamentation—cartouches, clouds, and acanthus motifs—framing the saint in a celestial setting.
Starting price: 1000€
Estimate: 1200-1500€
Hammer Price: €
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Estimate: 20000-25000€An unique Byzantine period orthodox silver-gilt, niello and cabochones reliquary with Crucifixion.
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Silver, gilding, niello, semi-precious cabochons; repoussé, chasing, engraving, punching, niello inlay, stone setting.
Dimensions with suspension ring: 11.5 × 8.5 × 4 cm.
Weight: 272.8 g.
Inscriptions: Greek dedicatory inscription on the reverse, naming the Monastery of the Mother of God Petritsiotissa of Bachkovo, the True and Life-Giving Cross, the donor Hieromonk Matthaios, prohegoumenos, and the date 1645.
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The reverse is ornamented with nielloed foliate scrolls and a central rectangular panel. Around it runs the Greek donor’s inscription, which may be translated as: “Reliquary of the True and Life-Giving Cross of the Monastery of the Mother of God Petritsiotissa of Bachkovo, made at the expense of Prohegoumenos Hieromonk Matthaios, 1645.” In the centre is a stylised flowering branch, a motif connected with the Tree of Life and widely used in post-Byzantine and Balkan ornamental art of the seventeenth century.
The side panels are decorated with alternating bands of floral scrollwork, niello ornament and geometric borders.
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Lot 0263
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Marked: maker’s mark of IAA; 84 zolotnik silver standard, Moscow assay mark. Dimensions: 22,7 x 18 x 3,3 cm.
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Bronze travel icons of this type were used in Russia for private prayer and travel, especially among Old Believer communities.
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Lot 0266
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Estimate: 3000-3500€Icon “The Mother of God of Korsun”
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Icon: wood, tempera, gold leaf
Riza: silver 84, chasing, engraving, gilding, niello, enamel, colored stones or glass
Master: F. Che
Dimensions: 33 × 27.5 × 5 cm
Riza weight: 558.5 gAn baroque-style 19th-century Russian icon of The Mother of God of Korsun, covered with a finely worked silver riza richly decorated with chasing, gilded details, and inset colored stones. The engraved inscription identifies the icon as “Korsun Mother of God, 1857.”
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