logo
 

RUSSIAN - OLD BELIEVER ICONS

 
  {short description of image}  
 

The 'greshnik', Micha's, collection consists of small icons and cast bronze crosses bought in Russia. We dedicate this exhibition to the ladies of Kostroma Church of the Nativity who would not let us sinners into their church. Shown here is a 4.4 by 3.9 bronze icon depicting the Virgin with Child Jesus.
Such icons were ordinarily shown on church iconostasis or in a special place in the home. They were frequently nailed to wooden graveposts and crosses in ceneteries. They were frequently given by a father to a young man being conscripted into the military and worn by the soldier around his neck until his safe return (retirement). When worn down they were disposed of reverently by burial, usually wrapped in a cloth.
The design of icons was strictly regulated by theological considerations. Castings of copper alloy or bronze were made right from the beginning of Orthodoxy in Kyivan Rus before 1000 AD. With the introduction of the Nikon "Reforms" in the late 17th century the "Old Believers" who dissented from these reforms became especially active in preserving their theological position by the casting of small icons for personal use. They established a factory at their settlement at Vyg, between St Petersburg and the White Sea far to the north of the more populated part of Russia. The icons and crosses were cast in one sided moulds engraved in slate or impressed in clay. After being cooled and cleaned the cast icon was often gilded and/or enameled. In the 'champleve' method a vitreous white or blue power was poured into small depressions on the surface of thee casting and then heated until it melted and bonded with the metal. Over the years of use the crosses and icons would be worn down exteensively. Worse, the bronze would suffer from 'bronze disease' or impurities in the metal would corrode. All this would result in loss of the enamel as well as deterioration of the metal itself.
Here we show photographs of many of the items in this collection. Because the colors of the icons seem to be greatly affected by the lighting and manner of photography, we show several different views of some of these icons.

 
{short description of image}

Four part icon in bronze with white and blue enamel with engraving on the outside and also gilding- each section 6.4 by 4 inches - the sections are shown at 254a, 254b, 254c, 254d, and with different lighting at 255a, 255b, 255c, 255d.

 
{short description of image}

Bronze four section panels with scenes from the gospels - the individual sections are shown in three versions in different light at 211a, 211b, 211c, 211d, 212a, 212b, 212c, 212d, 212e, 213a, 213b, 213c, 213d.

 
{short description of image}

Bronze tryptich icon with some remaining enamel - 8 in. by 6.4 inches, depicting Mary, St Nicholasand St John the Baptist. The lighting has made this look more bluish-silver than it really is. It is more bronze color. Another view with different lighting is Mary, John, Nicholas.

 
{short description of image}

Large crucifix on a plaque with Mary and St John standing below and scenes from the gospels in sections like on an iconostasis surrounding the central crucifix. - another detailed view at 309 and at 310.

 
{short description of image}

Bronze crucifix with blue and white enamel - 8 by 5.5 inches - another view here

 
{short description of image}

Bronze crucifix, silver plated with inscription on the reverse - two figures are standing on either side, above the central cricifix are scenes from the gospels - 8.5 by 4.5 inches - another view here - and here and here.

 
{short description of image}

Bronze cross with blue enamel - 8.8 by 5.75 inches - Two persons standing on each side of the criss with landscape of Jerusalem in the background - very much detail in excellent condition. Another view is here.

 
{short description of image}

Bronze cross with blue enamel - 3 horizontal bars - engraved reverse is shown here.

 
{short description of image}

Bronze cross with blue enamel - 6 by 3.5 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze cross with pale blue enamel - engraved inscription on the reverse. - 6 by 3.75 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze cross with colored enamel - 11 by 6 inches - another view here.

 
{short description of image}

Bronze cross with yellow and green enamel - 6.7 by 4.5 inches - another view here.

 
{short description of image}

Three cast crosses. The top left one is 4.4 by 2.5 inches and has inscription on the back - the large one on the right has leaves and flowers on the back. The cross at bottom left also has an inscription and is 4.5 by 2.75 inches. They are shown here.

 
{short description of image}

Bronze crucifix with blue enamel - 7.5 by 4 inches - the back is shown at pic 22.

 
{short description of image}

Four bronze crosses mounted on a wooden icon holder - they are shown individually at 221a, 221b, 221c, 221d.

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon depicting Virgin

 
{short description of image}

Different lighting on same icon of Virgin

 
{short description of image}

Reverse side of Bronze icon of Virgin - depicting four evangelists

 
{short description of image}

Different lighting on same icon depicting four evangelists

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon depicting the Virgin with Child Jesus

 
{short description of image}

Same Bronze icon depicting the Virgin with Child Jesus with different lighting

 
{short description of image}

Same Bronze icon depicting the Virgin with Child Jesus with different lighting

 
{short description of image}

Same Bronze icon depicting the Virgin with Child Jesus with different lighting

 
{short description of image}

Same Bronze icon depicting the Virgin with Child Jesus with different lighting

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon with blue and green enamel depicting St Nicholas the wonder worker - 4.5 by 3.8 inches - different view is here.

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon with blue enamel depicting St George slaying a dragon - 2.5 by 2 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon with warrior and archangel protector - 2.5 by 2 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon with four enamels showing Mary and Child Jesus - 2 by 2.25 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze Icon with white, blueand yellow enamel depicting the Virgin with child Jesus and in four courners the evangelists, Mark, Mathew, Luke and John. - 2 by 2.25 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon with white, green and blue enamel showing lovely architectural structure - 2.25 by 2 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon with blue, green and dark blue enamel depicting the Resurection - 2.4 by 2.1 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon with blue enamel depicting Mary with child Jesus - 2.3 by 2.2 inches. another view here.

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon with pale blue enamel - central part of a tryptich - It depicts Christ, Mary nd St John - 2.5 by 2.3 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon depicting Virgin with child Jesus - 2.4 by 2.1 inches - worn from useage

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon with blue and white enamel of Christ's resurection - 2.2 by 2.12 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon with blue enamel of Christ's resurection - 2.25 by 2.12 inches - somewhat worn.

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon of St Nicholas the wonder worker - 4.5 by 2.5 inches. Another version with different lighting is here.

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon of Virgin with elaborate top section and blue enamel - 5 by 3.1 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon with enamel navy blue and white - center shows St George killing a dragon.- 5.6 by 4.75 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze Icon of St John the Baptist holding the infant Jesus - a panel of a tryptich, now alone. - 5.5 by 4.9 inches. Same icon as shown here.

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon of St George killing dragon - enamel worn. - 2.5 by 2 inches - there is engraved inscription on the reverse

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon with blue enamel depicting resurection

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon with blue enamel depicting the Assumption of Mary - 2.3 by 2.2 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon with blue enamel depicting St John the Baptist with Child Jesus - 2.75 by 2.4 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon - tryptich with blue and white enamel depicting Resurection in center, Assumption on left and Baptism of Christ on rightl - 6.5 by2.25 inches. - reverse side is here

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon with white and blue enamel depicting the Virgin with Child Jesus - 3.8 by 2.4 inches - well worn by use

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon with enamel - The Mother of God in center with God the father on the top part - 4.8 by 3.2 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon with Virgin May and Christ in the center. - 3.75 by 3.65 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon "Prevsta Bogoroditsa Rodosti"

 
{short description of image}

Bronze cross with inscription on the reverse - 2.6 by 1.8 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze cross in form of an angel with inscription on the reverse. - 2.6 by 1.8 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze Icon depicting 'prepodobnyi Nifon' - another view is shown here

 
{short description of image}

Bronze tryptich depicting St Antipa - 4 by 2 inches

 
{short description of image}

Bronze cross with white and blue enamel - 2.5 by 1.6 inches with inscription on the back, shown here.

 
{short description of image}

Top left is qaudripartite medalion, enamel representing Virgin and Child; Top right enamel virgin and child, Virgin of Vladimir on opposite side; Top middle Icon of St Germogen in enamel; Middle left, Icon in enamel with bronze frame of Virgin and child - Chernigovskaya Bogomater signed at the bottom by A. A. Ysachev; middle, cross in enamel with Monomakh hat; ( this one is also shown in detail frontand back.) middle right, dormition with "oklad' painted icon in miniature; bottom meft, icon painted on wood in silver frame of Mary Magdalene; bottom right, icon painteed on wood in silver frame of Jesus.

 
{short description of image}

Upper left is Christ the Pantocrator painted on wood
Upper right is Trinity - Deisus - painted on wood
Bottom left is painted on wood
Bottom right is St Sergei, an enamel

 
{short description of image}

This commemorative medal depicts the freeing of the serfs, with a peasant on the left, a landowner on the right and a warrior representing the state in the center.

 
{short description of image}

Two imperial badges for orders - upper right is Red Cross of the Order of St Anne with swords with orange and black ribbon - lower left is badge (cross) of the Order of St Stanislas with swords and white and red ribbon - plus lower right is black cross for liberation of Montenegro in 1852-3 for Prince Danilo - upper left is red cross of 22 Sept 1782 with black and red ribbon

 
{short description of image}

This commemorative medal shows the Cathedral of the Assumption in the Kremlin on this side and three saints - Iona, Metropolitan Peter and Metropolitan Philip - on the other side.

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon with blue, white, yellow and green enamel - depicting Christ above and Mary with saints below - 5.25 by 2.75 inches.

 
{short description of image}

Bronze icon depicting three saints - 2.5 by 2.25 inches.

 
{short description of image}

Tryptych icon painted on wood with silver 'oklad' and framed in bronze contaners. the same icon is at 34.

 
{short description of image}

Mary ??

 

Return to Xenophon. Return to Ruscity. Return to Rushistory. Return to Ukraine.