The word icon is of Greek origin and means: image, likeness.
Primarily, portable images of the saints of the Eastern churches, the Orthodox and Greek Catholic churches, the Virgin Mary and Christ were depicted. These liturgical images were seen as material imbued with divine grace. Emphasizing this, different, very valuable materials are used as a carrier surface, such as ivory, metal, enamel, mosaic, and later on, in order to make it available as widely as possible, it was also painted on furniture boards and wooden boards. In everyday life, we can mostly meet this form. These images are usually consecrated. They play an important role in the spirituality of the churches, and their goal is to raise awareness of the reverence for God and his saints, strengthening the relationship between the icon and the person praying before it, which, figuratively speaking, connects God and the believer as a kind of bridge. It may also be interesting to note that the churches do not consider these holy images to be either decorations or works of art. You can see a wide selection of icons from the second half of the 19th and first half of the 20th century in person in our store, or you can buy them conveniently and safely from our online store in just a few minutes!
Miniature Orthodox icon painted on a wooden board: Mother of God with the child Jesus in her arms. Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 cm. Second half of the 20th century, Russia.
Hand painted, oil, canvas mounted on wooden board. In an oval-shaped, gilded blondel wooden frame. 36 x 26 cm. End of 19th century, beginning of the 20th century.
Fedorovskaya Mother of God with the Child Jesus. Small-sized depiction of the Mother of God painted on a wooden panel. Early 20th century, Russian. Size: 10.5x9 cm. Tempera, wood. The painting on the halo is worn in several places.
Hand-painted icon with oil on a wooden panel depicting Our Lady of Kazan with the child Jesus on her arm. Dimensions: 21.5 x 17.5 cm. Russia, beginning of the 20th century.
Small Russian icon painted on a wooden board with an Orthodox saint depicted on a gilded background. Oil, wood. Size: 11.5x10 cm. End of the 19th century, Russia.
Hand-painted on a wooden board, Hodigitria Guide Mother of God Icon representation with pressed copper oklad cover. Dimensions: 22 x 16.5 cm. Russia, early 20th century. Unmarked.
Oval-shaped icon in a gilded wooden frame: Representation of the Angel's greeting. Wooden board hand-painted with oil, dimensions: 27 x 21 cm. Russia, first half of the 19th century. Restored in places.
Oil painting on wooden panel depicting a holy image, Archangel Gabriel with a gilded background. Dimensions: 24 x 23 cm. Unmarked. Russia, early 20th century.
Representation of the Suffering Mother of God with saints painted in oil on a wooden panel. Dimensions: 31 x 26.5 cm. Russia, first half of the 20th century.
