19th Century Russian Bronze Icon

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19th Century Russian Bronze Icon.

A type of religious artwork typically made for personal use and travel. It is cast … Read more 19th Century Russian Bronze Icon.

A type of religious artwork typically made for personal use and travel. It is cast in bronze and backed in a red fabric.

Historically, the production of these cast metal icons became particularly important for a group of Orthodox Christians known as the Old Believers. Beginning in the 17th century, when state reforms outlawed their production, Old Believer communities continued to create them as a way to maintain their religious traditions while often living in remote areas or traveling to escape persecution. The casting process made them more durable than painted icons, and they could be easily cleaned if they became tarnished. See less