Antique 18th Century Russian Bronze Icon Mother Of God Of Smolensk Smolenskaya

Authentic antique 18th century rare Russian Orthodox cast bronze icon of the Mother of God of Smolensk Smolenskaya Hodigitria or Patron of the Wayfarers.

The Virgin gazes either into the distance or at the viewer, holding the child Christ seated on her left arm while she gestures towards him with her right hand. The breasts of the Virgin and the Christ are adorned with Tsata.

CONDITION: Showing signs of usage and wear with a dark old patina.

MEASUREMENTS: 5.5 cm x 5 cm (2.17 inches x 1.97 inches)

REFERENCES: Similar icon is published in the book “Russchische Metall-Ikonen in Formsand gegossener Glaube” by Stefan Jeckel on page 80-81, No 25.

It has come to our attention that the market is filled with replicas of Russian brass icons, which may look indistinguishable from the authentic ones for novice collectors. Therefore, we would like to assure our clients that the antique 18th-century icon we offer is an original, genuine artifact. We will provide the buyer with photocopies of the relevant reference pages and an authenticity certificate to further support this claim.

HISTORICAL FACTS: The historical origins are obscure, but the type was known before iconoclasm. The Tuesday procession of the Hodegetria icon kept in the Hodegon monastery in Constantinople was one of the memorable events recorded by medieval visitors and pilgrims in the city. In the eleventh century, a copy made in Constantinople of the Hodegetria Virgin came to the Slavs in the retinue of the Byzantine imperial Princess Anna, who married Prince Vsevelod of Chernigov in 1046. In 1101, it was installed in the Cathedral of Smolensk by Prince Vladimir Monomakh. The icon was brought to Moscow in 1308 and returned to Smolensk again in 1456. Many miracles are attributed to the icon's work, among them the defeat of Napoleon at Borodino after it was paraded before the Russian Army in 1812.