Russian Icons?

Hello folks — These little panels, painted on wood are around 5.75x7x.75”...

The hand written note on the back of one reads (I think):
Ascension of Christ
2 men in bright cloaks
Appeared & said
What are you looking
Up for — he is
Coming back —
People — Mother of God
+ Apostles

Could they be Russian icons?
How to figure out if they have any value?
TY!!

 

I'd say Serbian, with that textured background.

 

Do you think they are independent works that stand on their own, or part of something bigger like an altar?

 

My guess is these are copies of much larger church pieces. Beyond that...dunno.

 

They look like they could have come from an iconostasis, something like the Russian one below.
But it is difficult to say if they are old or made to look old. Painted on old wood, that kind of thing. Is there any place near you where you could have them checked?

 

Thanks!
I am an ignoramus....
Where would i have them checked?
At an auction house?

 

A specialist in antique icons. Maybe there is someone like that at a university near you.
Auction houses know about auctioneering, very few know how to tell the difference betweeen real and repro.

 

Many orthodox homes have icons like these. They appear more Russian than Serbian to me. The Serbian ones depict usually just one saint who represents the house patron, it's called 'slava'.
They could come from a Russian monastery or some old household.
There is just only one thing that appears very odd to me. Those inscriptions on the halos look so unprofessionally done compared to the whole picture.

 

Hardly from a iconostasis. They usually have very big icons and not something as tiny as 15cm

 

Oh I forgot to say, they are painted in the traditional Byzantine style. Which is the dominant Orthodox style compared to Baroque for example which is very very rare. (The Baroque pieces are usually original to it's period cause it was a short-lived fashion).

 

All so interesting!
My grandpa came from Riga in the early 1900s, he passed thru Ellis Island and landed in Philadelphia. He died in the early 1950s, these were his. Who knows where he got them??

 

Was he Orthodox?

Also here are the Serbian versions of those icons



And here a Russian one


The difference is kinda huge so that's why I'm guessing yours are Russian. Probably originals, I don't believe someone used old wood panels to make a 'historic' copy. Nowadays most households would find such an antique piece 'outdated'. So there is no point to make a copy

They were probably expensive pieces back in those days when they were made. Meaning not everyone could afford it. That's why I'm guessing some monastery old some noble family or simply someone rich.

Also, I see numbers on the back of one. Maybe it's been in a big collection or a museum perhaps?

It's a wild guess but maybe early or mid 19th century

 

Mega interesting, thank you for sharing your knowledge with me.
I see what you mean about the different styles...

I am quite certain he would/could not have brought these with him when he emigrated. He was, I hear, an atheist and an iconoclast — but maybe these reminded him of home.

Too bad one is split and the other has damage in the front from the screw in back poking through!

 

Well either way they are pretty cool and you should totally keep them! It's art after all.

I know, pity but it happens with wood panels. You could get them professionally restored of course!

 

TY!!

 

Thank you for bringing the size to my attention (and in such a ahum nice way ) I had no idea they were only 15 cm. So no, absolutely not from an iconostasis.

When people only mention inches I don't usually feel like calculating or looking up a conversion site, especially when I am tired. One of my pet hates.
I post both sizes when asking for help, or have something everyone knows in the photo next to my item. After all, I am the one asking for help, why should other people have to do the calculating.

JBo , I would have them checked. I have seen too many fakes, especially ones painted on antique panels.

 

JBo, this is my Serbian travel icon. It is only a small pic (old), and it has had a life, but I hope you can see the geometric textured background I was referring too. Many old Serbian icons have that. It was inspired by Serbian filigree.

 

Ooo — thanks!

Sorry for any confusion about size, I thought the ruler would help - next time I will call out cm + in

I have contacted a few dealers where I live — will keep everyone in the loop!

 

Wonderful.

 

Yes but this is something entirely different. Yours appears to be made of metal with only painted faces of Mary and Jesus. Just like this one


However the one of JBo is probably carved wood or pressed with a metal stencil to create that background.

My dad is Serbian and we have relatives there so I visited many Orthodox churches and monasteries.