Lot 0280
Ovchinnikov. Travel Icon of the Kazan Mother of God in Cloisonné Enamel, Moscow, 1899–1908
Estimate: 5000-7000€
Ovchinnikov. Travel Icon of the Mother of God Kazan
Moscow, firm of Pavel Akimovich Ovchinnikov, 1899-1908.
Silver-gilt, cloisonné enamel, polychrome enamel on guilloché ground.
Marked: maker’s mark “ПО”, Moscow assay mark, 84 zolotnik silver standard.
A finely executed Russian travel icon in Neo-Bysantine style depicting the Mother of God with the Christ Child in a compact rectangular silver-gilt frame. The sacred image is rendered in delicate polychrome en-plein enamels, with the Virgin shown in a dark maphorion accented by red enamel crosses, and the Christ Child draped in luminous blue robes. The suspension loop is enriched with cloisonné enamel ornament in white and red, lending the object both a liturgical and jewel-like character.
The icon was produced by the celebrated Moscow firm of Pavel Akimovich Ovchinnikov, one of the most distinguished jewellery and silver workshops of the Russian Empire. Founded in 1853, the firm played a leading role in the revival of the Old Russian style, drawing upon medieval models while bringing them to a high level of technical and artistic finish. Ovchinnikov’s workshop was especially renowned for cloisonné enamel, filigree, and ecclesiastical silver, and supplied both the Imperial Court and the Orthodox Church.
Comparable examples:
Sotheby’s, Russian Works of Art, Fabergé & Icons, London, June 2014, lot 507
https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2014/russian-works-art-faberge-icons-l14116/lot.507.html
Christie’s, Russian Works of Art, Fabergé and Icons, London, November 2014, lot 38 https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5896351
Starting price: 4000€
Estimate: 5000-7000€
Hammer Price: €
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Maker’s mark “PO”. Moscow, 1899–1908
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Comparable examples:
Sotheby’s, Russian Works of Art, Fabergé & Icons, London, June 2014, lot 507 https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2014/russian-works-art-faberge-icons-l14116/lot.507.html
Christie’s, Russian Works of Art, Fabergé and Icons, London, November 2014, lot 38 https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5896351Starting price: 6000€
Estimate: 7000-9000€
Hammer Price: €