1980s Vladimir Gorsky — Mother of God (Gold Leaf Egg Icon)

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Description

This hand-painted wooden egg icon depicting the Mother of God and the Christ Child represents an exceptional example of Vladimir … Read more This hand-painted wooden egg icon depicting the Mother of God and the Christ Child represents an exceptional example of Vladimir Gorsky’s early American devotional work. The surface is executed with applied gold leaf and finished with a meticulously polished lacquer that is exceptionally smooth and refined, avoiding the overly shiny, plastic-like appearance characteristic of mass-produced decorative eggs. This object stands firmly within Gorsky’s finest miniature period, during which he created a very limited number of gold-leaf icons for private collectors in Houston. The egg remains paired with its original turned wooden stand and survives in flawless, museum-grade condition.

Priced at the appraised value. The appraisal is available upon request.

This icon is attributable with complete confidence to Vladimir Gorsky (1950–2008) and was acquired directly from the artist in Houston in the mid-1990s. The owner personally knew the artist, lived in the same city, and purchased this piece during Gorsky’s period of producing high-precision devotional eggs for private clients. Gorsky often explained to close friends — including the present owner — that he painted these miniature works using a magnifying glass, enabling him to create extraordinarily smooth surfaces with brushstrokes completely invisible even under strong magnification. This technique is fully evident here: the image has a photographic clarity and refinement that only Gorsky achieved in his early American period. The absence of a signature is consistent with other small-format works the artist sold privately during this time. See less