Rectangular, the hinged covers opening to reveal an icon of the Mother of God of Tikhvin in a gem-set cloisonné enamel gold-mounted oklad with wooden borders, flanked by icons of St Lidia and St Feodor, both within silver mounts engraved with scrolling foliage, the silver cover similarly engraved with bouquets of flowers and fruit, inscribed in Russian 'Feodor Vasilievich / Lidia Nikolaevna / Porokhovi / 1908', the reverse decorated with mother-of-pearl, centring a handwritten paper note in Russian, with suspension loop and a silver chain, marked throughout
6⁷⁄₈ in. (17.5 cm.) high

Fedor Valkonen-Porokhov (1871-1936) and Lidia Valkonen-Porokhova (1877-1936).

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Lot Essay

The handwritten note on the reverse reveals that the present icon of the Mother of God of Tikhvin is the Porokhov family icon which they owned from the first day of their marriage, and which they treasured as a miracle-working icon. On 20 December 1908 they commissioned the silver oklad for the icon from Kuzma Konov, a leading workmaster in Olovyanishnikov Sons' icon workshop. His innovative and modern icons were particularly sought after among Moscow clientele in the 1910s.

The Porokhovs had to emigrate to France after the Revolution. Once in Paris, they changed their surname to Valkonen.