Icon - Christ Pantocrator - Silver

Authentic 19th-century Russian Orthodox icon of Christ Pantocrator encased in an elaborately worked silver protective cover. Christ is depicted in half-figure, with his right hand making a traditional blessing gesture and in his left hand he holds an imperial orb (globe with a cross) that symbolizes his dominion over creation. Assay marks & dating. The lower edge of the oklad bears a complete, official set of Russian silver marks that guarantee the provenance and age exactly. CITY ARMS: Moscow (Saint George on horseback slaying the dragon). Silver content 84 zolotnik. Assayer (Assay Master) initials N.A with the year 1859. This is the master mark of the well-known Moscow assay master Ivan Vasilyevich Avdeev (active 1852-1862). Silversmith/Master mark Cyrillic initials I.H most likely attributed to the Moscow silversmith Ilya Nazariov, whose workshop in this period (1850s-1860s) specialized in religious silverwork. Condition: The object is in a well-worn antique state with clear signs of age and use. The silver oklad shows dents, distortions, and several cracks and holes, particularly around the chest area and the imperial orb. This gives the object a wonderful historical character. Private possession, Belgium.