RUSSIAN, LATE 16TH CENTURY AND LATER | Panagia with the Virgin and Child and Saints

George R. Hann, Pittsburgh;
his sale, Christie's New York, 17-18 April 1980, lot 162;
private collection, Germany

Pittsburgh, Carnegie Institute, Collection of George R. Hann, 1944, no. 108;
New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1944;
St. Louis, The St. Louis Art Museum, Russian Icons and Objects of Ecclesiastical and Decorative Arts, 1945;
Greenburg, The Westmoreland County Museum of Art, Man as Image, 1960, no. 156;
The Buffalo Fine Arts Academy, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Religious Art from Byzantium to Chagall, 1964-65, no. 75

Overall the condition of the ivory is very good, with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There is minor rubbing at the high points, in particular to the reverse. There is minor stable splitting to the ivory, consistent with the material. There is particular dirt in the crevices. The metal mount and chain are in good condition with some wear and dirt consistent with age. There are a few losses to the enamelling, and the metal is slightly warped. There is some soldering at the top at the front. The front plate of the mount is slightly loose but stable.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The central motifs of the double-sided ivory relief are analogous to an example in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. no. 17.190.129). It is likely that the present ivory disk forms one half of a folding panagia; what is likely to have been the other half, also now in a 17th-century pendant mount, was sold in the Hann collection sale (referenced above) as lot 161.