MAKER'S MARK CYRILLIC 'V.S', MOSCOW, 1899-1908

Details

A SILVER-GILT CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL AND SEED-PEARL ICON OF CHRIST PANTOCRATOR
MAKER'S MARK CYRILLIC 'V.S', MOSCOW, 1899-1908
Rectangular, traditionally painted, with seed-pearl garments, the oklad enamelled with varicolour foliage with ropework scrolls, the halo and tsata similarly enamelled, the outer borders decorated with eight enamelled roundels depicting an Imperial double-headed eagle and cross, the mounts engraved with a dedication in Russian 'From Aprak / 27 July 1901 / Gatchina', marked on lower mount
3 7/8 x 3 in. (10 x 7.5 cm.)

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Lot Essay

This icon appears to be a wedding gift from Princess Alexandra Obolenskaya (1851-1943), née Apraksina, to Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna (1882-1960) who married Duke Peter Alexandrovich of Oldenburg on 27 July 1901 at the Gatchina Palace. Princess Alexandra Obolenskaya was a close friend of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna and a maid of honour to her mother Empress Maria Feodorovna.

Letters to Princess Alexandra Obolenskaya from Empress Maria Feodorovna and her two daughters Olga and Ksenia survived and were recently published. Alexandra is being continuosly addressed to as 'Aprak' after her maiden surname Apraksina. Depiction of the Russian double-headed eagle on enamelled roundels also suggests the imperial provenance of the present lot.

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