Tuesday 18 March 2025 at 14h00
The icons
Russian Icons
-What is an icon and a Russian icon?:
Russian icons are religious paintings, often made on wood, representing holy figures of the orthodox Christianity. These works are central to Russian spirituality and are seen not only as objects of art, but also as windows to the divine.
The origin of icons goes back to Byzantium, and they were introduced in Russia with the Christianization of the country in the 10th century. Icons are not only artistic representations, but also tools for prayer and meditation, venerated in churches as well as in homes. Every detail, color, and gesture has a deep spiritual meaning. For example, the golden background symbolizes divine light, and the frontal poses of the saints express their direct connection with the faithful.
Over the centuries, regional schools of iconography have emerged, notably in Novgorod and Moscow, each with distinctive styles. One of the greatest Russian master iconographers is Andrey Rublev, whose works, such as The Trinity, are considered timeless masterpieces.
Russian iconography, with its complex techniques and rich symbolism, remains a pillar of art and the orthodox faith.
The icons may be accompanied by what is called an oklad or riza which is a decorated adornment, revealing certain parts of the body such as hands, faces. They can be made of metal, silver, vermeil, filigree and receive elaborate patterns to the pushed, the most decorative and expensive will receive fine beads. They can also be accompanied by their Kiot (box intended to receive them).
-What is an icon worth, what is the value of an icon: the value of an icon depends on a multiplicity of competitive criteria: its age, its state of conservation, its school, the restoration carried out, the quality of the painting, of the subject but also of the degree of preciousness of its oklad, finally of the provenance.
Who can give an estimate? A auctioneer assisted by a union-owned Russian art expert remains the best formula. For several years, the Cazo study has been collaborating with Ekaterina NikolaevaTendil, an expert in Russian art and member of the SFEP (French Union of Professional Experts in Art Objects)
- How to sell, and especially how to sell your icon : address a CP who will organize an auction creating real competition between buyers, but who must also have a full Russian specialty with the assistance of an expert, preferably Russian, better understood Cyrillic but also Russian culture and history.
The fact that a study already has this “Russian Art” specialty means that it has built up, over the years and as sales are organized, a solid customer database both nationally and internationally, customers who subscribe to our newsletter, who rate and look forward to our sales dates to bid.
If you would like to meet us for a first contact, an estimate request or photo, you can contact us by phone at + 33 1 45 55 18 66 or by email: contact@cazoparis.com
Looking forward to meeting you
Wilfrid CAZO
Auctioneer/Auctioneer
-What is an icon and a Russian icon?:
Russian icons are religious paintings, often made on wood, representing holy figures of the orthodox Christianity. These works are central to Russian spirituality and are seen not only as objects of art, but also as windows to the divine.
The origin of icons goes back to Byzantium, and they were introduced in Russia with the Christianization of the country in the 10th century. Icons are not only artistic representations, but also tools for prayer and meditation, venerated in churches as well as in homes. Every detail, color, and gesture has a deep spiritual meaning. For example, the golden background symbolizes divine light, and the frontal poses of the saints express their direct connection with the faithful.
Over the centuries, regional schools of iconography have emerged, notably in Novgorod and Moscow, each with distinctive styles. One of the greatest Russian master iconographers is Andrey Rublev, whose works, such as The Trinity, are considered timeless masterpieces.
Russian iconography, with its complex techniques and rich symbolism, remains a pillar of art and the orthodox faith.
The icons may be accompanied by what is called an oklad or riza which is a decorated adornment, revealing certain parts of the body such as hands, faces. They can be made of metal, silver, vermeil, filigree and receive elaborate patterns to the pushed, the most decorative and expensive will receive fine beads. They can also be accompanied by their Kiot (box intended to receive them).
-What is an icon worth, what is the value of an icon: the value of an icon depends on a multiplicity of competitive criteria: its age, its state of conservation, its school, the restoration carried out, the quality of the painting, of the subject but also of the degree of preciousness of its oklad, finally of the provenance.
Who can give an estimate? A auctioneer assisted by a union-owned Russian art expert remains the best formula. For several years, the Cazo study has been collaborating with Ekaterina NikolaevaTendil, an expert in Russian art and member of the SFEP (French Union of Professional Experts in Art Objects)
- How to sell, and especially how to sell your icon : address a CP who will organize an auction creating real competition between buyers, but who must also have a full Russian specialty with the assistance of an expert, preferably Russian, better understood Cyrillic but also Russian culture and history.
The fact that a study already has this “Russian Art” specialty means that it has built up, over the years and as sales are organized, a solid customer database both nationally and internationally, customers who subscribe to our newsletter, who rate and look forward to our sales dates to bid.
If you would like to meet us for a first contact, an estimate request or photo, you can contact us by phone at + 33 1 45 55 18 66 or by email: contact@cazoparis.com
Looking forward to meeting you
Wilfrid CAZO
Auctioneer/Auctioneer
March 2025
