Icon - Mother of God with Three Hands - Wood

03
days
22
hours
58
minutes
02
seconds
Current bid
€ 73
No reserve price
Justus Heutink
Expert
Selected by Justus Heutink

Holds broad knowledge of religious icons with six years of collecting experience.

Estimate  € 180 - € 220
BG
€73
DE
€68
RO
€59

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Description from the seller

The Virgin of the Three Hands, known in Orthodox tradition as Trojeručica / Tricherousa (Троеручица).
Name: Virgin of the Three Hands, Trojeručica (Троеручица).
Iconographic type: a variant of Hodigitria, the Virgin who points or presents Christ.
Child Jesus: appears on the Virgin's left arm, blessing.
The third hand: is visible at the bottom of the image, beside the Virgin's body. It is the characteristic element that gives the icon its name.
The inscription visible to the right seems to indicate ТРОЕРУЧИЦА (“Three hands”).
The meaning of the third hand:
Tradition relates this icon to Saint John of Damascus. According to the legend, during the iconoclastic controversy one of his hands was cut off; after praying before an icon of the Virgin, he miraculously recovered the hand. As thanks, he would have placed a representation of a silver hand over the icon.

Therefore, the added hand does not represent a third anatomical hand of the Virgin, but the sign of the miracle and of the protection of the Mother of God.

The Virgin of the Three Hands, known in Orthodox tradition as Trojeručica / Tricherousa (Троеручица).
Name: Virgin of the Three Hands, Trojeručica (Троеручица).
Iconographic type: a variant of Hodigitria, the Virgin who points or presents Christ.
Child Jesus: appears on the Virgin's left arm, blessing.
The third hand: is visible at the bottom of the image, beside the Virgin's body. It is the characteristic element that gives the icon its name.
The inscription visible to the right seems to indicate ТРОЕРУЧИЦА (“Three hands”).
The meaning of the third hand:
Tradition relates this icon to Saint John of Damascus. According to the legend, during the iconoclastic controversy one of his hands was cut off; after praying before an icon of the Virgin, he miraculously recovered the hand. As thanks, he would have placed a representation of a silver hand over the icon.

Therefore, the added hand does not represent a third anatomical hand of the Virgin, but the sign of the miracle and of the protection of the Mother of God.

Details

Era
1400-1900
Iconography
Mother of God with Three Hands
Weight
1300 g
Material
Wood
Country of origin
Russia
Height
35.4 cm
Width
30.4 cm
Depth
2 cm
Condition
Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes
Estimated period
1800-1850
SpainVerified
284
Objects sold
98.99%
Privatetop

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