Russian Icon

Hi everyone,

I took a punt on this Russian icon and it arrived today. It was valued in 1997 between £80-120.

9inches by 7inches.

Doing a bit of research, I’m seeing that the mainstream market took off particularly after an exhibition of Russian icons in 2003.

I’m wondering how old you guys think this is? If anyone can tell me where it was made based on the stamp. If these things have become more valuable (on top of inflation since 1997) and also I would appreciate any general comments or thoughts.

I was quite surprised that it doesn’t look all that old to me.. but I’m no expert at all.

Thanks a lot

 

Valuation and another pic

 

that's 80 to 120...for insurance purposes only......
It's not a fair market value.....nor does inflation have anything whatsoever to do with pieces of art.
That said...it's very nice indeed...

 

Thanks @komokwa.. Is the insurer (who claims he spoke to an expert) like to inflate or deflate the value?

 

The insurer gives a wide range cuz he dont no nuthin....
but....
for insurance ... the value is always inflated..... it's business....& always good to err on the high side !!
That's why folks burn their properties for the insurance money.......
if it was low......no one would bother !!!!

 

My guess is this is sort of a stamp of approval, an imprimatur. Maybe one of our Russian readers with take a look. @Figtree3



Or maybe not. Top word, ХУДОЖНИЪ, is artist. Don't know what Т.С.Л. stands for. Too much missing & too much glare on the lower word. If you can make out the letters better than we can, you can use this to type them, then copy & paste into the thread:

https://www.branah.com/russian

 

JMHO. and not meaning to be rude in any way...
you got what you asked for. a speculation object. the letter by this Ivan Street in Bath is of no value at all. the assessment should include any papers that are connected to other auction houses - it sounds rather posh "over the edge" when people simply phone to their friends at Sotheby's and then something "transpires" . they'd better transpire at sports...
so if you have the chance - I take it you're in Great Britain - show it to an expert in person and stay with him. don't leave it behind or you pay another exaggerated fee for useless paper.
as for the insurance value - another trap ! in most countries this value is theoretically what the insurance company should pay to replace the item if it's destroyed; but how would you prove the value with such a piece of wrapping paper ?

 

If I'm reading the lower word correctly, it is МАЛЫШЕВЪ, which IM Translator transliterates as Malyshev. There is something before that, maybe initials?

See fourth paragraph:

https://jacksonsauction.com/news/pr-0614.aspx

and

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/malyshev-icon-five-saints-645-c-ac944ba913

 

Back of 5 saints:

 

See #3:

http://www.300magazine.com/culture/antique-russian-icons-as-masterpieces-of-religious-art/

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...0052/lot-d90f13cf-3e93-4212-8141-a45400987e1f

 

Malyshev seems to have been active a bit earlier than appraisal letter suggests. Have to keep in mind they could not research on the Internet.

 

would be wonderful. if real another proof that the other guy in Bath didn't even lift the blower to phone Sotheby's.

 

Thanks a lot guys. This looks promising..

 

You guys are amazing btw.. fantastic knowledge/research ability on here. Cheers

 

Good work!

 

Thank you. After all the work the team of us did on the Olenin cameo & your tutelage, I'm getting good at making it appear I know something about Russian.

Could this statement, 'Previous icons dated 1862 and 1868 by this artist were sold with the suggestion that he worked in the workshop of Sergei Lavra' account for this, Т.С.Л.? If the word for workshop or similar starts with T, could be Workshop of Sergei Lavra?

 

The page you linked above from invaluable dot com gives a translation of the initials as Trinity Sergius Lavra. Not sure what Trinity has to do with a workshop but I haven't looked into this.

 

Artemis Gallery has several coming up on may 31st.........
show it to them & see if they'll tell you what they know...

 

Auctioneer probably knows Russian the way I do, only what some translation program tells them. They may have had the full word the T stands for & got a bum translation.

 

'Probably produced in the icon workshop located in the Trinity Saint Sergei Lavra.'
https://www.bidsquare.com/online-au...sian-icon-of-the-appearance-of-the-mog-655308

It is written as Trinity-Saint in the article, so in Russian maybe all one word?
http://www.eastwestreport.org/40-english/e-19-3/319-the-revival-of-russian-iconography

'The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius (Russian: Тро́ице-Се́ргиева Ла́вра)'

Aha! 'Lavra' is not the last name of someone named Sergei:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_Lavra_of_St._Sergius