Unknown artist, Russia 19th century, Traveling icon of Christ Pantokrator

Cast icon - the central quadrant of the triptych. The icon has the form of a rectangular plate, made in the technique of casting from metal. It depicts a frontal image of Christ in the Pantocrator type, shown up to the waist, with his head surrounded by a cross nimbus. The right hand is raised in a gesture of blessing, while the left hand supports an open book with marked pages and outlines of inscriptions. The figure is framed in shallow relief, with clearly modeled facial features, beard and hair falling to the shoulders. The background is filled with ornamental floral and geometric motifs, and the whole is surrounded by a decorative, openwork border with a repetitive floral pattern. Hinged protrusions are visible on the sides, testifying to the original setting in a folding triptych.
Measures 17 x 15 cm
Cast bronze.
Condition as pictured.
The depiction of Christ Pantocrator - Ruler and Judge of the world - is one of the most important and canonical iconographic types in the Byzantine and post-Byzantine traditions. The arrangement of the blessing gesture and the Gospel book refers to the theological message of Christ's divine wisdom and authority.
The presence of hinges indicates that the object was originally part of a triptych - a traveling icon - in which the side wings may have contained images of saints or narrative scenes. Such portable altarpieces acted as personal objects of worship, often accompanying the owner on a journey.
The piece on display retains high collector value as an authentic example of sacred craftsmanship and a material testimony to the spirituality and aesthetics of the Orthodox tradition.