Saint Blaise (Vlasij) of Sebaste Personal and travel icon of the Old Believers Northern Russia (Yaroslavl/Kostroma or Volga region), 1660–1685 Tempera and gold on single linden wood panel Dimensions and structure of the panel - Exact measurements: 8.5 cm (width) × 11.0 cm (height) × 2.4–2.5 cm (thickness) - Single linden wood panel thick basswood, without stamina (without slats and joints) – extremely rare after around 1700 - Kovcheg (submerged field) very deep, hand-carved, approx. 9 mm - Back unplaned, with large ax marks and old carpenter's knife marks - Old original woodworm channels (exit holes 1-2 mm) only on the back and edges - older than the varnish layer 2. Undercoat and painting technique - Classic isinglass chalk (levkas) from the 17th century, very thin and hard - Golden ground: творёное золото (powdered gold in egg tempera with a little oil) - characteristic opaque orange tone under UV rays (not gold leaf) - Flesh tone: multi-layered sankir technique (first layer almost black → reddish-brown vochrenie → very fine white dvizhki reflections) - Contours and inscriptions in thin black line with brown shades - very high level laboratory 3. Paleography and inscriptions Inscription on the scroll (heavily enlarged): **БЛ̓ЖЕНЪ М͌ЖЬ СЕЛ̌ НЪ** ("Blessed is the man..." – Psalm 1:1) - Pure semiuncial (poluustav) before the Petrine reforms - Т hard sign in the shape of a cross ъ very large title, unusually high for 1000 Above the head: **С(ВѦ)ТЫЙ ВЛАСИЙ** → Saint Blaise (Vlasij) of Sebaste 4. Iconography and style - The saint is depicted with the large patterned cloak and the analava with large crosses - the classic image of the patron saint of the Old Believer clergy from 1660 onwards - Extremely emaciated, almost black face - deliberate emphasis ascetic - The small dimensions 8.5 cm × 11 cm confirm that it is a personal/travel icon ("путевая икона") that priests or wealthy Old Believers carried with them or hid during the persecution after Schism 5. Dating and attribution All characteristics unequivocally point to the period 1660-1685. Most likely laboratories: Yaroslavl, Kostroma or the Volga region (Nizhny Novgorod - Balakhna). 6. Condition - 85-90% original paint layer preserved - Natural losses on the edges and woodworm damage, never restored or repainted - Patina and craquelure completely authentic... It is one of the personal icons of the Old Believers of the 17th century: a true museum pocket treasure. Keep it as the most precious jewel you own!
Origin:
Formerly in a European private collection; purchased in the 1910s on the antiques market in Vienna (Austria). The object has been in Europe for several decades.
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SILVER Seller in Slovenia, Slovenia
