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Emmanuel Benakis: A Russian icon of Christ Pantocrator with gilded silver and enamel oklad
Estimate
60,000 - 80,000 USD
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Description
- gilded silver, enamel, hardstones (oklad); wood panel, either tempera or oil, and the back is covered with velvet
- 12 1/4 x 10 3/8 in., 31.1 x 26.4 cm
the oklad enameled with brightly colored stylized flowers and tear-drops enameled in bright turquoise, the corners with applied plaques with conforming ornament, the oklad Emilian Kuznetsov, Moscow, 1899-1908
Provenance
Emmanuel Benakis (1843-1929)
Penelope Benakis Delta (1874-1941), his daughter
Thence by descent
Thereafter gifted to a family friend
Penelope Benakis Delta (1874-1941), his daughter
Thence by descent
Thereafter gifted to a family friend
Condition
unusually bright with a strong color palette; some small wear to the enamel consistent with age
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
Emmanuel Benakis (1843-1929), Greek merchant, philanthropist and politician, ordered this icon from Moscow together with an accompanying icon of the Mother of God sometime around 1900. The pair of icons hung in the bedroom he shared with his wife, Virginia Choremi Benaki (1848-1928) until the end of his life. The icons passed to his daughter, the author Penelope Delta, and thereafter to her descendants before being gifted to a family friend. The Benakis were one of the most prominent Greek families of the period: Emmanuel Benakis served in the Hellenic Parliament, and was a Minister of Agriculture and Industry as well as Mayor of Athens. His son Antonis Benakis (1873-1954), influenced by his father’s ideals, donated his considerable collection and the family’s Athens mansion to the Greek nation. The Benaki Museum, home to one of the greatest collections of Greek art, opened to the public in 1931.