Russian Icon Andronicus Madonna Our Lady of Kazan Antique Icon Gold Gilt Rare?

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Russian Icon Andronicus Madonna Our Lady of Kazan Antique Icon Gold Gilt Rare?:
$1625.00

Offering an icon that I do not know much about. This icon was won by me on . Several people were offerding against me. I do not know if I overpaid or even underpaid. I am Catholic so I loved the icon as an image of the Mother of God, but I literally know nothing about icons. The woman selling it said she bought it while on a trip to Turkey and she told me it was an antique. From the photos on , I thought the icon had jewels all over it, but it did not. The icon confuses me as how to describe it and I would love it if an icon professional could write me and share what they know. I\'d love to ask you some questions about her. The icon has gold, lots of gold which is rich and beautiful. There\'s designs in this gold. It sortof looks like foil, but unlike any foil I could think of so I have to wonder if it is gold leaf of some sort? I don\'t know if it could be paint because I can\'t figure out how there could be a design in paint. The gold color is deep and rich. It looks like the icon has gems on it but there are none. As you can see, when you photograph it, it looks to be covered in pearls, diamonds, and other stones. The green pieces are raised green paint. The dark areas that look like blue in the photos are a a dark brown or black with lighter paint swirled in it. The diamond looking gem areas are in actuality raised white paint which is swirled with another color I think, or perhaps they are glue?- I do not know. If it is glue, then maybe it once had gems which someone removed? I\'d hate to think so because I can\'t picture someone \"robbing\" Our Lady\'s image like that. I cannot tell if her face is painted or not- as I am not an artist, and probably a person could make something look hand painted. The gold areas that look like foil are not hard like metal. The icon is written on a piece of wood which has some bending to it, and 2 slats - one at the top and bottom- are placed inside the large piece of wood it the icon is written on. The top left hand corner has a chip, and I have tried to show you it more closely so you can see if the gold is paint or what it is. I have seen antique icons done in gold with designs but only on and never in person. They sell high and stated they are painted gold, but I don\'t understand how they get the intricate designs in the gold, which is why I wondered if it is foil. I can\'t even tell by the chipped area, as the gold is very thin and I see no signs of it being paper foil. The piece measures almost 14\" by 10\" and weighs a little over 3 pounds. As I write this I feel a bit sorrowful and also a bit worried about selling off an icon of the Mother of God. I wonder if it is bad for me, as she has graced our home and brought me peace. I am trying to downsize and sell things I paid good money for so I might get on my feet financially. I admit I had hoped she was covered in gems when I bought her. I thought maybe she was rare- I believe her image is- but I was having such financial trouble that I wished she was worth more than I paid for her, and thought that if I learned that was so, maybe it was God helping me to \"win the lottery\" so to speak so I might sell her and get on my feet. I was also very torn in wanting very much to keep her thinking I would be more blessed having her image with us in our home.I\'ve owned her about 4 months now. So it is with mixed feelings that I am offering her up. I\'d really appreciate any icon collectors out there who might shed some light on this icon. Is there a type of painting which looks like gems in the light? Is it a known technique? Or did someone pluck gems off her? Is the gold paint or foil? Is she an antique? Can I assume by the wood, the side pieces of wood, and the white behind the icon that she is a true icon and hand painted? Thank you for looking. I have other items I am trying to sell if you would care to look. I\'m still in a downfall situation financially and trying to stay afloat. I am listing her at this price to get back what I paid or otherwise I would like to keep her. I have prayed and asked God for His will to be done and Our Lady to go where she wishes her image to be honored, either here or a new home. I am sure she will grace your home with much peace if she leaves. I will consider it to be God\'s will whatever happens. Thank you for reading and considering this icon.God bless you!Andronicus Icon
1/14 May; October 22/November 4

The Andronicus Icon of the Mother of God, is a miraculous icon that allegedly used to be a family icon, a holy treasure belonging to Byzantine Emperor Andronicus III Palaeologus, from whom it took its name.

According to tradition, the Andronicus Icon was written by the Holy Evangelist St. Luke. According to the earliest extant documentation regarding the Icon, in 1347,

Andronicus donated it to the Monemvasia Monastery in Morea, where it remained until the early 19th Century; because of its association with that Monastery, it was also known as the Monemvasia Icon.

When many towns, including Monemvasia, were ravaged after Greece was attacked by the Turks in 1821, Bishop Agapios, abbot of the Monastery, left all of the Monastery\'s treasures to the enemy, except for the Miraculous Andronicus Icon, which he managed to save and take with him into hiding in Patras.Before his death, Agapios willed that Holy Icon to a relative, the Russian general consul N. I. Vlassopoulos In 1839, the general consul\'s son and heir, A. N. Vlassopoulos, sent it from Athens to Odessa, with an accompanying letter to His Highness Emperor Nikolai Pavlovitch, to whom the Icon was to be presented in St. Petersburg.

From 1839 to May 12 (Old Calendar) 1868, the Andronicus Icon remained at the Winter Palace, and from May 12 1868 until April 16, 1877, at Holy Trinity Cathedral in the area of St. Petersburg.

In 1877, the Icon was transferred to the Monastery of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God near the town of Vyshiy Volotchok, in the Tver Administrative District.

The Icon was stolen in 1984, and its present whereabouts are unknown.

The Icon depicts the Theotokos to the chest, without the Divine Infant. There is a bleeding wound on the right side of the Mother of God\'s neck. A sheath affixed to the lower part of the Icon housed a bone handled, Damascene steel knife,with which an enemy Turk had struck the Icon; following that attack, the bleeding wound appeared on the Icon. Also affixed to the Icon was the Byzantine coat of arms - the Double-headed Eagle, attesting to the Imperial heritage of the Image. The Icon\'s dimensions were approximately 25 x 35 cm.

The Icon is celebrated on May 1 and October 22 (according to the Julian Calendar).

On Jul-26-16 at 07:49:25 PDT, seller added the following information:

I have some more photos which show the gold areas and her face better I think. I can\'t figure out how to add them to the listing, but if you email me through , I can send them to you.