Buying icons
An icon is an object that, first of all, carries high spiritual value, both for the church and for a person who is a fan of religion.
The date of origin is considered to be approximately 787 years. Of course, it is worth noting that icons are an object of depiction of a deity, a saint, and not some kind of painting. Mainly used by the Russian Orthodox Church. An icon, as a part of history and culture, is very important for society. After all, almost every person lives with faith, faith is within us. They say that you should not create idols for yourself and unnecessarily worship anyone, but an icon is an image of the great. We're not worshiping a statue or memorial, are we? The same is true with icons. Basically, they take place in the form of a talisman at home, a certain symbol of belonging to Orthodoxy, and simply in the form of gratitude to the deities who brought something sacred to the world. Who is usually depicted in icons?
If you are a frequent visitor to the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as simply a fan and admirer of the Bible, and have some historical and cultural knowledge, then you probably know some of the saints whose faces are depicted on frescoes and icons. And if you are not familiar, here are some of them:
Jesus Christ, the son of God, is most often exposed on crucifixions as a man bearing the main image of a saint, the Savior of the World, who ransomed with his life for the entire human race and rose again, bringing good to the World - I think such an icon will not pass by a single home of a true believing family ;
Nicholas the Pleasant is depicted on icons most often as an elderly man with a gray beard. Another name for such an icon is Nicholas the Wonderworker, which helps those who need help, are terminally ill and simply have some kind of dream. No matter what wish or request you come with, the icon carries power and will definitely help you;
The Most Holy Theotokos is a very revered icon in the Russian Church. People most often turn to it for atonement for their sins, as well as to the icon of Jesus Christ, the son of God.
The icon of the Holy Trinity is also a very powerful icon. It also has a strong energetic character.
The Nativity icon depicts the birth of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. Very significant and sacred.
The baptism icon carries a deep meaning. Baptism is like initiation into religion, faith, acceptance of all the norms and laws of Orthodoxy.
There are also personalized icons. For example, the icon of St. Anastasia, the icon of St. Catherine, the icon of St. Anna, Alexander, Vera, Mary and many others.
Icon case
Many people have seen such glass cabinets for storing icons and lamps more than once. But no one knows what they are called. So, these are icon cases. The icon case serves as a kind of storage, a safe, so that the icons do not deteriorate and can delight us for a long time. It is very convenient because it can hold up to ten icons, or even more. Most often used to protect icons from dust, dirt and damage.
Catalog of copyright icons by Russian artists: gallery, photos
It is not for nothing that the icons of Russian artists have been famous since ancient times. There is an opinion that God himself moves their hands. Is it any wonder that Russian Orthodox icons raised not only Russian, but also the entire world culture to a very high level? Back in the mid-10th centuries, Orthodox icons made in Rus' were characterized by brightness and harmonious colors. The color scheme was the most important point to which artists paid their attention. A catalog of Russian icons of that time will confirm this. This tradition is still maintained today. Numerous photographic icons of our time confirm this. The gallery of icons posted on our website will help you choose for yourself or your loved ones exactly the icon that will arouse reverence due to the beauty of its execution, and not just its plot.
To view the works with your own eyes, you can come to the artist’s workshop, and then decide to order them. We have both icons by Russian artists for church and for home use. Temple icons are larger and more significant, they have more small details, and are more colorful and vibrant. We can say that they are part of that complex system of symbols that heal people spiritually and enrich them morally. If necessary, you can even order an icon according to your wishes, if the icon you need is not in stock.
See also:
- Author's icon as a gift
- Buy icons of saints, gallery
- Icon for the President
- Orthodox birthday gifts
- Gift for goddaughter for 1 year
Price of an ancient icon
What could be the value of an icon in financial terms? Regarding the spiritual aspect, everything seems to be clear. The icon carries historical, spiritual and religious significance for society, because faith is very important and necessary - it is a kind of force that gives strength to live. But there is another side - material value. This can be a valuable metal from which the frame of the icon is made - silver, gold plating, platinum, precious stones in inlay, unusual painting and rarity, icons in a silver frame with 84-carat enamel, copper and bronze icons with enamel - a protective coating - this can be appreciated only a specialist appraiser, since it is quite difficult for a simple connoisseur of culture to do this by eye, also if you see some signatures on the icon, perhaps this is the hand of the icon painter who painted it in the 18-19 centuries. The more valuable are those icons that have their own “age” and proportion works here - the older the icon is in years, the higher the value it will have on the antiques market.
Cost of icons
depends on the following factors:
1 The general condition is assessed at 4-5 points, that is, the condition is good and excellent. No cracks, chips, abrasions or smudging
2 The icon has an original size and is not a cheap fake, of which there are many in ordinary church shops
3 The most expensive icons can be sold from before the 19th century. That is, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th centuries. Such icons are highly appreciated by experts
4 The icon is made of valuable metal, as mentioned above, or some type of wood
5 The author of the icon and the writing itself are also taken into account
6 The icon will also be highly appreciated if it is signed by the author, which, of course, is not so common, but still, maybe you received such an icon as a gift
How much does an icon cost?
An antique icon can cost up to several million rubles. The price will again depend on the condition and value of the inlay - wood, precious stones and metals and the date of manufacture. Examples can be found in our catalog of icons with photos and prices
Age of icon
The age of an icon cannot be determined by eye; only a specialist can do this. Of course, based on its general appearance and condition, we can roughly say that the icon is modern or not, whether it is new or old. You can examine it from all sides, look for inscriptions on the back and outside. But the main assessment and conclusion from the examination (examination - verification of authenticity) will be given by an antique dealer. Will it cost millions of rubles, tens of thousands of rubles, or will its price remain simply spiritual and religious?
Score icons
- Get a complete and free consultation from a competent appraiser in literally 5-10 minutes without even leaving your home. By leaving a photo of the icon on the website: antikskupka.ru you will receive a full assessment of the product
- Receive a high estimate and full payment of the cost;
- Confidentiality and security of the transaction;
- Instant calculation time - 5-10 minutes in any place convenient for you; if it is not possible to come to our office, then a specialist can go to a place convenient for you himself. Free visit and assessment!
- There is also the possibility of payment in any form - both by bank card and in cash.
Modern icon or antique?
Both options can be quite attractive because they have a lot of undeniable advantages. Therefore, the choice of a specific product largely depends on your personal aesthetic preferences and financial capabilities. However, regardless of what exactly you like, in our store you can not only buy old icons, but also acquire works by contemporary artists. Also in our assortment: jewelry, paintings, furniture, porcelain and much more. In addition, we are ready to provide delivery of all your purchases to other regions of Russia.
Sell icon
It’s possible and real – in the “World of Collectibles”! After the sale of your icon, the icon will be with the collector and occupy a place of honor. We are not just connoisseurs or art critics, we are people who take care of the history of our people and the region in which we live - we will preserve and give a second life to what would seem to be lost in your apartment - plus we will give you real money for it money! Also on the website antikskupka.ru you can see a catalog of icons and prices for icons, with photos and descriptions.
catalog of icons
Our website contains a catalog in which you will find hundreds of icons with prices and photos that have been sold at auctions in recent years.
Antique icons
Gallery of icons of the Russian Orthodox Church
ICON is an image, a bright image, doctrinal texts, words that are expressed with a brush on a board, visual images of great love, a symbol of repentance for one’s sins, a special type of art that cannot be confused with any other, an indication of the highest heavenly beauty, God’s gaze on all of us.
An icon is a representative of the heavenly world on earth, it is the highest generally recognized achievement of the human spirit, it is a small piece of the Divine principle capable of performing great miracles, it is a holiday, evidence of victory, a triumph.
If you have asked a query like “Russian icon site” in search engines or are simply searching for information on this topic, you have come to the right address. Our website contains a collection of both ancient Russian Orthodox icons and those painted in our time, but in accordance with all church canons and received the blessing of the Orthodox Church. By the way, the icons of the Russian Orthodox Church should under no circumstances be called paintings, although they are very beautiful and made with the undoubted skill of the author. A painting is what the artist sees with his own eyes and transfers to the canvas. A Russian icon is what the artist sees with his inner eye, if expressed in scientific language - an image, a fantasy.
Our gallery of icons does not fully show their beauty and spirituality. These are just photo icons, which in no case can replace real icons of Russian artists. Nevertheless, it is quite possible to get an idea of the master’s technique and his works; a catalog of Russian icons will significantly help you with this. And then you will be able to see the master’s icons with your own eyes, but more on that a little later.
Who determines the price?
Most often, large antique stores cooperate with research and restoration centers and museums of ancient Russian culture , therefore they have the opportunity to accompany the goods with an expert opinion.
Small antique shops and private collectors usually do not attach any documentation to rarities. Prices for images of saints from non-specialized auction sites are lower than on well-known gallery sites. But if desired, the true cost of a wooden icon can be determined by contacting a specialist.
What does the price depend on:
- Image size . Thus, the icon “Saints Ephraim and Arkady of Novotorzh” (wood, gesso, tempera), format 57X68 mm, costs 12,000 rubles . And “Unexpected Joy”, comparable to it in terms of preservation, on a 145X180 mm board will cost the buyer 63,000 rubles .
- More expensive than images depicting one saint are multi-part icons , folding icons and icons framed with stamps with the life of the saint.
- Preservation of the image (this is indicated by serious galleries on the website).
- The so-called “ownership” images - icons with the initials or full name of their first owner.
- Works with the signature of the master or workshop may be valued higher than those without explanatory inscriptions or monograms. For example, a wooden image of “Lord Almighty” (gesso, gilding, tempera) with board parameters of only 140x180 mm is valued at 260,000 rubles . because the place of its creation is known - the workshop of M. M. Blinnichev.
- The cost depends on the availability and quality of the frame and icon case .
"Burning bush"
