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!
Painted on a wooden panel, the Virgin Mary of Kazan with the baby Jesus in her arms, with a richly engraved silver oklad. Oil, wood, 26.5 x 23 cm. Marked: 19th century Russian, 84 Zolotnyik silver hallmark.
Hand-painted icon with oil on a wooden board, depicting The Chosen Ones: Jesus, Mary and Saint Nicholas. Dimensions: 59 x 38 cm. Russia, end of the 19th century.
Festive icon with 12+1 pictures, painted in oil on a wooden board, with a pressed, punched copper oklad. Dimensions: 27 x 12.5 cm. Russia, second half / or end of 19th century.
Hand-painted festive icon with 12+1 scenes on a wooden board. Engraved copper barzma (frame). Dimensions: 31.5 x 26.5 cm. End of the 19th century, Russia. Unmarked.
Painted on a wooden panel, depicting the Virgin Mary sitting on a throne, with the baby Jesus in her arms. Richly decorated, pressed, punched, chiseled silver oklad. Marked: 1830 Russian, 84 zolotnik fineness silver hallmark. Tempera, wood. Size: 17.5 x 14.5 cm. The silver plate is torn a bit at the left edge of the oklad!
Hand-painted icon on wooden panel: Saint George the Dragon Slayer scene. With Cyrillic inscription at the top of the scene. Oil, wooden panel, 29 x 24 cm. Early 19th century, Russia. Unmarked.