4 June 2014 Russian Art Auctions
4 June 2014
607. THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL WITH A SILVER-GILT FILIGREE BASMA FRAME
EARLY 20TH CENTURY, BASMA FRAME AFTER A DESIGN BY SERGEI VASHKOV, STAMPED WITH MAKER’S MARK OF KUZMA KONOV IN CYRILLIC, MOSCOW, 1908–1917, 84 STANDARD
13 by 10.5 cm.
20,000–25,000 GBP
This small, exquisite image is a striking achievement of Russian Art Nouveau, giving full-blown expression to that special early 20th century decorative art movement founded by the creative talent of Sergei Ivanovich Vashkov (1879–1914), artistic director at the illustrious firm of Olovyanishnikov. In this icon, stylish design is combined with masterly realisation: the open-work filigree oklad is by the leading jeweller, Kuzma Ivanovich Konov.
The archangel is depicted in full-face view, in loros garb, with a sceptre in his right hand and orb in his left. This is the traditional iconography for archangels. The plaque on the sceptre is inscribed БГЪ [‘BG’], which helps connect the image to the name of the Archistrategos Michael (meaning in ancient Hebrew ‘Who is like God’). A notable compositional detail is the white omophorion with crosses on it, draped across the archangel’s forearms. The semantic nuance here lies not so much in the traditional depiction of archangels – the only known example known with a white omophorion being in the roundels of the early 13th century icon ‘Great Panagia Mother of God (Yaroslavl Virgin Orant)’ at the State Tretyakov Gallery – but in the Art Nouveau style. For example, as the 19th century gave way to the 20th, there was popular demand for depictions of the single figure of the Mother of God bearing her protecting veil (distinct from the standard ‘Protecting Veil of the Most Holy Mother of God’ iconography).
The archangel’s golden wings and his white and gold raiment, combined with silver-gilt and sparkling precious stones on his halo, create an exceptional and – in the literal sense – unearthly image of the heavenly warrior.
Notes on symbols:
* Indicates 5% Import Duty Charge applies.
Ω Indicates 20% Import Duty Charge applies.
§ Indicates Artist's Resale Right applies.
† Indicates Standard VAT scheme applies, and the rate of 20% VAT will be charged on both hammer price and premium.