in intricately chased and repousse gilt brass oklad with ornate polychrome cloisonn? enamel halos. Virgin Oranta (Znamenie) depicted waist-length with the arms raised in prayer, her head decorated by a headdress with painted jewels. Christ-Emmanuel is depicted in the medallion on her bosom. Venerable Mary of Egypt and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker presented in the lower part of the icon. Egg tempera and gesso on wood panel. Two insert splints on the back. 88.4 x 76 cm. ( 34 3/4 x 30 in.)


PROVENANCE:
Sotheby`s New York, December 6, 1994, lot 158
LOT NOTES:
The Abalakskaya (Abalatskaya-Znamenskaya) icon of the Mother of God is Siberia`s most venerated holy image. Its name is derived from the Tatar village of Abalak. The original Abalatskaya icon didn`t survive. Many copies were made in the 17th