Bidspirit auction | Pair of icons depicting the

Pair of icons depicting the Archangels Gabriel and Michael, 18th century - Bronze casting Dimensions: Height × width: 20.5 × 14.5 cm Weight: 629.1 g Such artifacts, often made of bronze and sometimes enriched with colored enamels, were generally small in size and intended for private devotion. Their portability made them easy to carry and, if necessary, to conceal, thus meeting the religious needs of a community that, after the schism known as the Raskol, experienced periods of persecution by the official Russian Orthodox Church.