Antique 18th Century Russian Brass Travel Icon – Our Lady of Kazan – Kazanskaya

Material: Brass. Russia, second half of the 18th century, circa 1750–1800. Height: 11.6 cm / 4.57 in. Width: 6.8 cm / 2.68 in. Thickness: approximately 0.5 cm / 0.20 in. Weight: 144 g / 5.08 oz

Condition: Good antique condition, with wear, scratches, surface marks, oxidation and patina consistent with age and devotional use. Please examine the photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the description.

Fine and substantial antique Russian Orthodox brass travel icon depicting the Mother of God of Kazan (Kazanskaya), one of the best-known Marian iconographic types of the Russian Orthodox tradition.

The Mother of God is represented from the shoulders upwards, with her hands not visible and her head gently inclined towards the Christ Child. The Child appears beside her, shown upright and raising one hand in blessing. These distinctive features identify the composition as the Kazan Mother of God.

The rectangular icon is cast in brass, with a strong raised relief and finely detailed decoration. Above the main image is a circular devotional medallion containing a further religious scene, surmounted by the integral suspension loop. This elaborate upper section gives the piece a particularly distinctive appearance among Russian portable devotional icons.

The reverse is completely plain, retaining visible traces of casting and finishing together with wear and surface irregularities produced by age and use.

A closely comparable example is illustrated in specialist literature on Russian metal icons under the heading “Moeder Gods van Kazan” (Mother of God of Kazan). The published icon shows the same unusual overall construction, with a rectangular Kazan image surmounted by a circular figured medallion and suspension element. Particularly interesting is the similarity in dimensions: the illustrated example is approximately 120 × 67 mm, while the present icon measures 116 × 68 mm. The comparison provides a useful iconographic and typological reference.

The icon has a substantial weight of 144 g (5.08 oz) and displays the characteristic wear expected from an object intended for personal devotion and travel. The raised areas show rubbing from handling, while the surface retains scratches, small marks, oxidation and an attractive natural patina consistent with age.

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