Antique 19thC Russian Orthodox Icon • Resurrection of Christ

Antique 19thC Russian Orthodox Icon • Resurrection of Christ • Survivor of 1922 Soviet Silver Seizure • 12x14.5” Mount Offered for sale is a genuine, late 19th-century Eastern Orthodox icon depicting the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Pascha). Painted in a charming, expressive provincial academic style during the late Tsarist era, this household-sized devotional icon is a magnificent example of Russian religious folk art. Beyond its devotional beauty, this specific panel serves as a fascinating, tangible artifact of early Soviet history. Historic Condition & The Missing Oklad Cover The perimeter of the thick wooden icon panel features exposed, dark iron brads and an original border shadow, confirming that it was originally adorned with a precious metal oklad (protective silver or silvered brass riza casing). In accordance with the Bolshevik Decree of February 1922 (The Seizure of Church Valuables), the precious metal cover was stripped away by Soviet inventory commissions to support the state during the post-revolution famine. The bare wooden icon was preserved and hidden away by believers. The removal of the protective casing exposed the fragile paint layers to ambient humidity changes over the subsequent decades, resulting in an authentic, heavy network of craquelure and localized paint flaking—most notably across Christ’s torso. This wear is highly sought after by antiquarians as ironclad proof of age and historical provenance. Artistic & Paleographic Features • Central Scene: Christ is depicted rising triumphantly above a stone sarcophagus, his hand raised in a classic gesture of blessing while holding the processional banner of victory over death. He is flanked by two heavenly angels acting as witnesses. • Inscriptions: The upper margins bear beautifully executed pre-reform cursive text reading "Воскресеніе Хр." (The Resurrection of Christ) and "Христосъ Воскресе" (Christ is Risen). The use of the pre-revolutionary letter "і" firmly dates this piece prior to the 1918 alphabet reforms. Display & Framing Mount The antique wooden icon panel has been professionally stabilized and pin-mounted onto a heavy, vintage mid-to-late 20th-century display board wrapped in deep olive-green velvet fabric. The backing board is constructed of durable plywood, finished with decorative upholstery tacks along the perimeter, and comes ready to hang with a pre-installed twisted picture wire. An old estate/auction catalog tag (Lot #648) remains affixed to the reverse side. Condition Report: • Paint Layer: Heavy, honest age-related craquelure, paint flaking, and superficial paint loss across the center and lower fields as pictured. The faces of Christ and the flanking angels remain clear and beautifully legible. • Structure: Wood panel is stable. Metal oklad is missing due to historical confiscation. Modern framing/velvet mount shows light storage wear but is completely structurally sound and ready for display. • Please review all high-resolution macro photographs carefully, as they constitute a primary part of the item condition description Nearest intersection Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue