Icon - Wood - Theotokos Hodegetria

Ancient Greek Orthodox wooden icon (2 registers) – 19th century

For sale is an authentic, ancient Greek Orthodox domestic icon from the 19th century (c. 1820–1880). The icon is two-part (two-register icon) and bears fine, classical Greek inscriptions. It impresses with its honest, unrestored aura and the delicate craquelure formation.

Upper register: Depiction of the Theotokos with the Christ Child in the Hodegetria type (the guiding one). Flanked by the traditional Greek monograms MP-ΘΥ (Mother of God) and ΙΣ-ΧΣ (Jesus Christ).

Lower register: Two prominent saints of the Eastern Church:

Left: Saint John Chrysostom (John Golden-Mouthed) in episcopal vestments with a Gospel book and a blessing gesture.

Right: Saint Charalampos (Martyr and patron against plagues), traditionally depicted as an elderly man with a long, split (doubled) beard.

Dimensions: ca. 29.5 x 19.5 cm

Material: Tempera/oil on solid, roughly hewn natural wood (back with a beautiful, age-related dark patina).

Aging-appropriate, lived-in original condition with pronounced charm. There is a vertical drying crack in the wood as well as some losses in the chalk underlay/paint layer (especially on the faces of the Theotokos and Child, and in the beard of St. Charalambos – see detail photos).