1874 RUSSIAN ORTHODOX ICON SILVER ENAMEL RIZA KIOT Start Price USD 7,795.00 Current Price USD 7,795.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 7,975.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, August 13, 2008 End Time Saturday, August 23, 2008 Location Boston, MA See more about '1874 RUSSIAN ORTHODOX ICON SILVER ENAMEL RIZA KIOT' Description YOU ARE BIDDING ON A BEAUTIFUL RUSSIAN ORTHODOX MID -19 CENTURY ICON OF TIKHVINSKAYA MOTHER OF GOD ENCASED IN A SILVER ENAMELED OKLAD AND WOODEN KIOT. Description: Fully finely painted Tikhvinskaya Mother of God in its original wooden Kiot box under a glass covered with original silver oklad chased with foliage on the borders and with halos decorated with polychrome enamel. Please note: The icon shifted slightly while being photographed -- it shows perfectly through the openings in silver oklad, which is original to the icon. Tikhvinskaya ("Tikhvin") Mother of God was believed to be painted by St. Luke who sent it as a gift to the ruler Theophilus ar Antioch. After Theophilus' death it went to Jerusalem. In the 5th century it was sent as a gift to Pulcheria, sister of Theodosius the Younger in Constantinopol. The Church of the Blachernae was built to house it, and it remained there for over 500 years under the title of Hodigitria. In 1383, knowing of the approaching fall of Constantinopol to the Turks, the icon was sent to Russia. Some fishermen saw it in a circle of light over Lake Ladoga, and then it appeared again near Lake Onega, then on the Oyat River, and then twice more, moving even closer to Tikhvin. Finally it appeared on the bank of the Tikhvinka River in 1383 then burned in 1390, but the icon was found unharmed in a juniper bush, In 1395 it survived another fire, and in 1500 yet another. In the 16th century it was placed in a brick church dedicated to the Dormition and in 1613, after a vision of a blind widow, it was used to repel the Swedes by being carried in a procession, following the instructions given by the Mother of God. This icon was very popular in Russia and very frequently copied. Its feast day is June 26. Measurements: 170 mm x 203 mm (6 1/2 in x 8 in ) Marks: The silver riza is hallmarked on the bottom right with 84 zolotnik (875/1000) purity mark, city of Moscow mark, assayers mark of A. Svechin, dated 1874 and an maker's mark "A.K." for Antip Kuzmitchev active between 1856 and ? who specialized (among other items) in silver and enamel oklads for icons. Condition: Superb original condition, minor patina and cosmetic scratches on the silver riza . very minor damage to enamel as shown on close ups. Very minor damage to the painted surface outside of the openings. Authenticity: This item is guaranteed to be genuine Russian mid-19c icon and NOT a later reproduction. We are helping to sell a small collection of Russian Icons. Please see my other auctions or feel free to contact me for additional information. PLEASE READ INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE PLACING A BID Shipping and Handling: $18 within USA, $40 - outside USA. METHODS OF PAYMENT: - PayPal - Money Order in US$ - Visa/Mastercard - Bank wire transfer Payment must be made in U.S. funds within 10 days of notification. Feel free to e-mail me with any questions before placing a bid. Item is shipped upon receipt of the payment, feedback left upon completion of the transaction. Place a Bid!