125 - Russian icon with a silver riza, depicting the Nativity of the Virgin and the Presentation in the Temple, surmounted by the Trinity—St. Petersburg, 1860

Russian icon with a silver riza, depicting the Nativity of the Virgin and the Presentation in the Temple, surmounted by the Trinity—St. Petersburg, 1860 Egg tempera on panel with riza Height x width: 36 x 31 cm This piece serves as an extraordinary example of a Marian hagiographic icon panel, entirely encased in a monumental and opulent silver riza (or oklad)—a protective metal cover—finely crafted using repoussé, chasing, and engraving techniques.This sumptuous metallic overlay strictly defines the visual architecture of the icon, organizing it into two majestic narrative registers set within grand, classical-style porticos—rendered in repoussé relief—complete with fluted columns and domed structures. The upper register depicts the complex scene of the Nativity of the Mother of God (Roždestvo Presvjatoj Bogorodicy), featuring Saint Anne standing at the center, attended by handmaidens, and flanked on either side by the kneeling, praying figures of prophets or interceding saints, likely representing the patron family’s chosen intercessors. The lower register is entirely occupied by the solemn iconography of the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple (Vvedenie vo Khram). It features a floor rendered in repoussé with a perspective-based checkerboard pattern, upon which the very young Virgin Mary moves toward the High Priest Zechariah, set against the open architecture of the Temple in Jerusalem; she is flanked on either side by relatives and patron saints in prayer. Dominating the composition from above—elevating it theologically—is a grand, medallion-like clipeus depicting the Holy Trinity of the New Testament (Otechestvo), featuring God the Father in a gesture of blessing alongside Christ the Savior. Beneath the precious silver riza (metal cover), the painted faces—revealed through specific openings (podolozhnik)—exhibit dark skin tones (sankir) that have become heavily oxidized over time, a process further influenced by the application of traditional protective varnishes (olifa). The entire scene is framed by a broad, monumental border, finely chased with a dense motif of scrollwork and acanthus leaves in high, three-dimensional relief. The riza is fully hallmarked with the 84 zolotniks (875/1000) silver mark used in St. Petersburg in 1860, assayer Eduard Fëdorovič Brandenburg, and the silversmith’s mark bearing a Cyrillic inscription that likely reads ‘В. СОКОЛОВСКОЙ’ (V. Sokolovskoj), likely referring to Vasily Fedoseyevich Sokolovsky (Василий Федосеевич Соколовский), a silversmith documented in St. Petersburg in 1867. His Excellency the Most Reverend Francisco-Javier Lozano Sebastián, Titular Archbishop of Penafiel and Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus. Item condition rating: **** good. The lot is in good condition, with normal wear and defects commensurate with its age and use over time.