ICON IN A SILVER BASMA OKLAD 'ST NICHOLAS OF MOZHAISK' Russia, late 18th century

wood, levkas, tempera Basma oklad: silver, embossed Maker' s mark 'I. F.' ; Assay master' s mark 'I.B.' over the date 1801; coat of arms of the city of Moscow and silver mark '84' 30 x 27 cm Condition: the icon under a layer of darkened olive, minor losses of the paint layer. Tears and losses on the basma. The icon represents considerable collector's interest as a well-preserved image of Nikola Mozhaisky of the late 18th century Basman (de basma) work - a thin, light sheet of silver on which various motifs (herbs) were embossed. On the icons, only the edges of the image, were made with basmannye.