The oklad chased and repoussé with borders of floral ornament, the spandrels applied with plaques of elaborate cloisonné enamel floral decorations and sprays against a white ground, the halo in cloisonne enamel with colorful foliage, the gospels and plaque decorated in champlevé enamels, the oklad struck with the maker's mark initials in Cyrillic I.T. for Ivan Tarabrov, and the 84 standard assayer's mark with initials I.L. for Ivan Lebedkin
31.5 x 27 cm (12 1/2 x 10 5/8 in.)

PROVENANCE
Acquired in Russia by Lucy Maxym, ca. 1970s
J.E. Caldwell Co. Jewelers, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
Private Collection, U.S.A. (purchased from the above in 1978)
Thence by descent

This icon was purchased at a rare (for 1978) exhibition of Russian icons and antiques at J.E. Caldwell Jewelers entitled The Rich Mysteries of Russian Art, that was comprised of icons bought in the Soviet Union by Lucy Maxym. The Caldwell jewelry store was one of the premier jewelry retailers in Philadelphia, in business since 1839, and the selling exhibition was advertised heavily in local newspapers such as the Philadelphia Inquirer (see illustration of original advertisement for show).  In addition to being an active importer, Lucy Maxym was the author of Russian Lacquer, Legends and Fairy Tales (1981) and editor of N. Vorobyev's The History and Art of the Russian Icon from the X to the XX Centuries (1986).