ICON ‘THE MOTHER OF GOD WITH THREE HANDS’ IN SILVER-GILT OKLAD Volga region, mid-19th century

Lotto 214

1 2001 800

Oklad: silver, chiselling, engraving, gilding Hallmarks: master’s mark in Cyrillic ‘IU’ for Ivan Ivanov Udalov (1859-1909), assay master’s mark in Cyrillic ‘A.K’ for Kudrin Alexander Stakhiév (1854-1865) above the date 1860; ‘84’ silver standard hallmark and coat of arms of the city of Nizhny Novgorod (deer in a shield); inscription in Cyrillic ‘weight 103 1/9 zolotniks’, equivalent to approximately 440 gr. wood, levkas, gold leaf, tempera 30.2 x 24.8 cm Condition: overall in good condition, some retouches and paint loss, oklad without restoration, minor deformations and loss of a few spokes on the crown. ‘The Mother of God with Three Hands’ (‘Troeruchnitsa’) is a miraculous image before which Saint John Damascene was healed of his severed hand. As a sign of gratitude for his healing, John Damascene affixed a silver hand to the icon, hence the name given to the icon. The oklad is impressive for its voluminous and refined decoration. The icon is of significant interest to collectors.

Upon the buyer’s request, we are pleased to provide a general condition report for the Lot described above. However, as we are not professional conservators or restorers, we strongly advise prospective buyers to conduct their own inspection or consult a specialist or restorer of their choice for a comprehensive professional assessment. Any condition descriptions provided in the catalogue or through any correspondence are for guidance only and should not be considered a substitute for a firsthand evaluation.

NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD ‘AS IS’ IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE PUBLISHED IN THE CATALOGUE.