World Treasures: Important Russian, Asian, European & American Works
November 13th & 14th, 2012
Day One - Lots 1-549
Day Two - Lots 550-1149


 
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LOT 172
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Lot 172
A RUSSIAN ICON OF THE FIERY ASCENSION OF THE PROPHET ELIJAH, NORTH RUSSIA, PROBABLY 16TH CENTURY AND WITH LATER RESTORATIONS.  A classically rendered icon depicting the Prophet Elijah ascending into heaven in a fiery chariot as described in 2 Kings 2:11-13. As he departs he drops his mantle to his successor, Elisha, shown lower left. In the lower right corner a related scene depicting Elijah being fed in the wilderness by an angel. The Old Church Slavonic inscription along the upper margin identifies the subject as, "The Fiery Ascension of the Holy Prophet Elijah". In days of old, the Russian peasant believed that the sound of thunder was produced by the Prophet Elijah’s chariot thundering across the heavens. 19.75 x 14.75 inches (50 x 37.5cm).
Estimate:  $25,000 - 35,000   € 19,250 - 26,950
Price Realized: $37,200.00

Provenance:
Mosgostorg from where acquired by a European collector and thence by descent to the present European owner.

Literature:

Miroslav Lazovic, ICONES D’UNE COLLECTION PRIVEE – Museum of Art & History, Genève, Switzerland, 1974 as icon #10, pages 49, 50, and 91, illustrated and herein dated to the end of the 16th century. A copy of this catalog is included with the lot.


Beginning in the 1920’s, the fledgling Soviet government began selling antiques and art through various state run agencies to combat chronic shortages of foreign currency as well as expunging religious imagery from the new atheistic society. It was through the various commission shops and Mosgostorg that many of the best Russian icons and objects of art were acquired by those Westerners who were able to travel to the Soviet Union at this time. A multitude of talents were called on to facilitate the operation of the many different commission shops selling icons, this included employing highly qualified icon restorers to ready icons for sale and who may have, on occasion, made copies of icons in the old style or highly refurbished old icons and sold them to unsuspecting western consumers.



Exhibited:

Echteld, Netherlands, Wittenburg Castle, Exhibition of Icons, November 1977.

Genève, Switzerland, Exhibition of Icons from a Private Collection, Museum of Art and History, 1974, #10.



All items are sold “AS IS” and there will be no returns based on condition. The items sold are often of considerable age and will exhibit wear, usage and damage often not listed in the catalog entry. The absence of condition remarks in the catalog entry DOES NOT mean the item is in perfect condition. Prospective buyers are in ALL CASES responsible for determining the physical condition of lots. No employee or agent of Jackson's International Auctioneers and Appraisers is authorized to make on our behalf or on that of the consignor any representation or warranty, oral or written, with respect to any property. Therefore, if a prospective bidder has not examined the property to their satisfaction before the sale, or his/her agent has not inspected the property, Jackson's recommends that they not bid on the property. All dimensions are approximate. The condition of frames is not guaranteed.