Shapiro Auctions RUSSIAN AND INTERNATIONAL ART AND ANTIQUES Saturday - May 18, 2013 RUSSIAN AND INTERNATIONAL ART AND ANTIQUES 1: RUSSIAN ICON OF SPAS OPLECHNII 18TH CENTURY USD 1,800 - 2,200 A RUSSIAN ICON OF SPAS OPLECHNII, 18th C., Egg tempera and gesso on wood panel with a kovcheg. Two insert splints on the back. 31.5 x 26.2 cm. (12 3/8 x 10 1/4 in.) PROVENANCE: Purchased by the Mother of the current owner in Russia during the 1920s; thence by descent in Family Collection. LOT NOTES: During the late 1920s, shortly after the Russian Revolution, two young New York society women, sisters Adelaide and Helen Hooker secretly traveled to Russia “out of curiosity and cussedness.” Unbeknownst to their father, the president of the American Defense Society, they spent over six months in snowy Russia, pursuing adventure in Moscow, Leningrad, Vladimir, Novgorod, and Suzdal among other cities. Searching for a glimpse of “Old Russia,” the women sought-out ancient churches and monasteries, just as they were being taken over by the government and converted to Anti-Religious museums. This icon was among those that Adelaide and Helen Hooker purchased from these establishments and brought to the United States, in effect saving them from becoming victims of iconoclasm. In the States, the icons were kept in esteemed family collections. One of the sisters would go on to marry the IRA officer Ernie O'Malley, the other the writer John P. Marquand. Their youngest sister, Blanchette, went on to marry John D. Rockefeller III, and would become a major benefactor of the Museum of Modern Art, where she served as president from 1972 to 1985. The story of their travels was published in Good Housekeeping, July-September 1930. 2: RUSSIAN DEISIS ICON 17TH CENTURY USD 2,300 - 3,000 A RUSSIAN DEISIS ICON WITH THE VIRGIN MARY, JOHN THE BAPTIST, AND CHRIST, 17TH CENTURY, Egg tempera, gold leaf, and gesso on wood panel with a kovcheg. Two insert splints on the back (both missing). 57 x 44 cm. (22 3/8 x 17 1/4 in.) PROVENANCE: Purchased by the Mother of the current owner in Russia during the 1920s; thence by descent in Family Collection. LOT NOTES: During the late 1920s, shortly after the Russian Revolution, two young New York society women, sisters Adelaide and Helen Hooker secretly traveled to Russia “out of curiosity and cussedness.” Unbeknownst to their father, the president of the American Defense Society, they spent over six months in snowy Russia, pursuing adventure in Moscow, Leningrad, Vladimir, Novgorod, and Suzdal among other cities. Searching for a glimpse of “Old Russia,” the women sought-out ancient churches and monasteries, just as they were being taken over by the government and converted to Anti-Religious museums. This icon was among those that Adelaide and Helen Hooker purchased from these establishments and brought to the United States, in effect saving them from becoming victims of iconoclasm. In the States, the icons were kept in esteemed family collections. One of the sisters would go on to marry the IRA officer Ernie O'Malley, the other the writer John P. Marquand. Their youngest sister, Blanchette, went on to marry John D. Rockefeller III, and would become a major benefactor of the Museum of Modern Art, where she served as president from 1972 to 1985. The story of their travels was published in Good Housekeeping, July-September 1930. 3: RUSSIAN ICON OF THE TRANSFIGURATION LATE 18TH C USD 1,200 - 1,500 A RUSSIAN ICON OF THE TRANSFIGURATION, LATE 18TH CENTURY, The central figure of Christ depicted shining through a cloud of darkness. His three disciples, Peter, James and John are shown struck by the pure light of God. Egg tempera, gold leaf, and gesso on wood panel with a kovcheg. Two insert splints on the back. 31.5 x 26.6 cm. (12 3/8 x 10 1/2 in.) PROVENANCE: Purchased by the Mother of the current owner in Russia during the 1920s; thence by descent in Family Collection. LOT NOTES: During the late 1920s, shortly after the Russian Revolution, two young New York society women, sisters Adelaide and Helen Hooker secretly traveled to Russia “out of curiosity and cussedness.” Unbeknownst to their father, the president of the American Defense Society, they spent over six months in snowy Russia, pursuing adventure in Moscow, Leningrad, Vladimir, Novgorod, and Suzdal among other cities. Searching for a glimpse of “Old Russia,” the women sought-out ancient churches and monasteries, just as they were being taken over by the government and converted to Anti-Religious museums. This icon was among those that Adelaide and Helen Hooker purchased from these establishments and brought to the United States, in effect saving them from becoming victims of iconoclasm. In the States, the icons were kept in esteemed family collections. One of the sisters would go on to marry the IRA officer Ernie O'Malley, the other the writer John P. Marquand. Their youngest sister, Blanchette, went on to marry John D. Rockefeller III, and would become a major benefactor of the Museum of Modern Art, where she served as president from 1972 to 1985. The story of their travels was published in Good Housekeeping, July-September 1930. 4: RUSSIAN ICON OF DESCENT INTO HELL OF CHRIST 1800 USD 1,200 - 1,500 A RUSSIAN ICON OF THE DESCENT INTO HELL OF CHRIST WITH BASMA OKLAD, 1800S, Egg tempera, gold leaf, and gesso on wood panel. The chased and repousse basma oklad with ornate floral designs. Two insert splints on the back. 31 x 27 cm. (12 1/4 x 10 5/8 in.) PROVENANCE: Purchased by the Mother of the current owner in Russia during the 1920s; thence by descent in Family Collection. LOT NOTES: During the late 1920s, shortly after the Russian Revolution, two young New York society women, sisters Adelaide and Helen Hooker secretly traveled to Russia “out of curiosity and cussedness.” Unbeknownst to their father, the president of the American Defense Society, they spent over six months in snowy Russia, pursuing adventure in Moscow, Leningrad, Vladimir, Novgorod, and Suzdal among other cities. Searching for a glimpse of “Old Russia,” the women sought-out ancient churches and monasteries, just as they were being taken over by the government and converted to Anti-Religious museums. This icon was among those that Adelaide and Helen Hooker purchased from these establishments and brought to the United States, in effect saving them from becoming victims of iconoclasm. In the States, the icons were kept in esteemed family collections. One of the sisters would go on to marry the IRA officer Ernie O'Malley, the other the writer John P. Marquand. Their youngest sister, Blanchette, went on to marry John D. Rockefeller III, and would become a major benefactor of the Museum of Modern Art, where she served as president from 1972 to 1985. The story of their travels was published in Good Housekeeping, July-September 1930. Bid Live Online at LiveAuctioneers.com Page 1 RUSSIAN AND INTERNATIONAL ART AND ANTIQUES 5: RUSSIAN ICON OF SAINT NIKOLAI MOZHAISKY 18TH C USD 2,300 - 3,000 A LARGE RUSSIAN ICON OF NIKOLAI MOZHAISKY WITH A METAL OKLAD, NORTHERN SCHOOL, 18TH CENTURY, The saint depicted holding a sword in one hand and the city of Mozhaisk, as a symbol of his patronage, in the other. The central figure of Saint Nikolai surrounded by fourteen scenes from his life. Egg tempera, gold leaf, and gesso on wood panel with a kovcheg. Two insert splints on the back (one missing). 64 X 51 cm. (25 1/8 X 20 1/8 in.) PROVENANCE: Purchased by the Mother of the current owner in Russia during the 1920s; thence by descent in Family Collection. LOT NOTES: During the late 1920s, shortly after the Russian Revolution, two young New York society women, sisters Adelaide and Helen Hooker secretly traveled to Russia “out of curiosity and cussedness.” Unbeknownst to their father, the president of the American Defense Society, they spent over six months in snowy Russia, pursuing adventure in Moscow, Leningrad, Vladimir, Novgorod, and Suzdal among other cities. Searching for a glimpse of “Old Russia,” the women sought-out ancient churches and monasteries, just as they were being taken over by the government and converted to Anti-Religious museums. This icon was among those that Adelaide and Helen Hooker purchased from these establishments and brought to the United States, in effect saving them from becoming victims of iconoclasm. In the States, the icons were kept in esteemed family collections. One of the sisters would go on to marry the IRA officer Ernie O'Malley, the other the writer John P. Marquand. Their youngest sister, Blanchette, went on to marry John D. Rockefeller III, and would become a major benefactor of the Museum of Modern Art, where she served as president from 1972 to 1985. The story of their travels was published in Good Housekeeping, July-September 1930. 6: RUSSIAN ICON OF JOHN THE BAPTIST 18TH C USD 1,200 - 1,500 A RUSSIAN ICON OF JOHN THE BAPTIST WITH SCENES FROM HIS LIFE, 18TH CENTURY, The central figure of John the Baptist surrounded by scenes from his life. Egg tempera, gold leaf, and gesso on wood panel with a kovcheg. Two insert splints on the back (one missing). 30.7 x 27.2 cm. (12 1/8 x 10 5/8 in.) PROVENANCE: Purchased by the Mother of the current owner in Russia during the 1920s; thence by descent in Family Collection. LOT NOTES: During the late 1920s, shortly after the Russian Revolution, two young New York society women, sisters Adelaide and Helen Hooker secretly traveled to Russia “out of curiosity and cussedness.” Unbeknownst to their father, the president of the American Defense Society, they spent over six months in snowy Russia, pursuing adventure in Moscow, Leningrad, Vladimir, Novgorod, and Suzdal among other cities.