Russian Orthodox Icons (Русские православные иконы). A beautiful one-of-a-kind doll painted in Russia in 1994, when the doors and windows of glasnost and perestroika began to open, though long before commercial ennui began to settle in. A beautiful icon doll with masterful paintings and all details and enhancements done by hand. The halos are all done in gold leaf. The lathe work is fine as is the lacquering. The artist's signature is at the bottom of the first doll. 10 nest, 8¼" down to less than 1". 1 only, as shown. In excellent condition.
The head doll is a painting of the icon of Christ Enthroned (In Glory or In Majesty). He is seated on an ornamental throne as the ruler of the world and flanked by The Mother of God and The Holy Myrrh-Bearer Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene, both witnesses to His Crucifixion. Christ holds open a gospel with a verse from John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son..." The second doll depicts John the Baptist, also known as “the glorious prophet and forerunner of Christ”. The wings symbolize John’s status as a messenger (in Greek “Evangelos” - i.e, angel). The scroll symbolizes his prophecy and he holds a staff with a cross at the top. The following pieces include King and Prophet David, King and Prophet Solomon and the Prophet Daniel together with Archangel Gabriel (4th piece), Archangel Michael (6th piece) and Archangel Raphael (8th piece), the Guardian Angel and a six-winged seraphim rounds out the set. Most of the smaller icons are shown with scrolls with fragments of prophecies in Church Slavonic. On the back of each piece the artist has painted a different Russian Orthodox cross on various color backgrounds.
