​During the Christian winter holidays and on the day Romanians celebrate Saint Nicholas, on Tuesday, December 6, the largest collection of Transylvanian glass icons is up for auction, along with important ancient Romanian icons, some of which belong to the Movilesti period in Moldova or Konstantin Brankovianu or Mykola Mavrokordat, as well as a Venetian-Cretan icon from the XVI.

Ancient or original icons correspond to the qualities of a collector’s item with aesthetic, documentary and historical value, in addition to the function of a cult object or religious symbol. A rare occurrence is the “Heavenly Table” icon on glaze, painted by the famous artist Ioan Costea Verman. The extremely rare piece was made in Merginimea Sibiului between 1830 and 1850 and has a starting price at the auction of only €350. No other icons of Kostea Verman with this iconographic theme are known, at least in public collections in Romania.

Another extremely rare work is the Lamentation of Jesus icon, made by the famous artist Savu Moga. The collectible icon is dated February 17, 1848 (during the so-called “Uprising of Moldavian poets” in Iasi, during the revolution of 1848) and has a starting price of 450 euros. So far, only one other glass icon by Savu Moga on this iconographic theme is known, in a private collection in Kartsishoar.

Another absolute rarity, dated 1888 and with a starting price of 400 euros, is the icon “Crucifixion of the Lord and 12 scenes” on the glaze of the artist Pavel Zamfir.

Other extremely rare icons that are being auctioned on this occasion are painted by the famous artist Mathieu Chamforet: “Saints Archangels Michael and Gabriel” from 1886 and “Jesus Christ Emperor and Supreme Archbishop” from 1871. The last iconographic theme, according to In the specialized literature, it can be found in Shamphorea in only three other icons (one in the heritage of the Romanian Academy and the other two in the Mushat family collection). Both Tamphorei icons start the auction at a price of 400 euros.

The first appearance in Romania is the medallion “Mother of God with the Child (Black Madonna – protector of Poland)”. At a starting price of 400 euros, the work, made in the second half of the 19th century in a well-known Warsaw workshop, will be put up for auction on December 6. The round icon, finished in bronze, tempera and gold leaf on wood, was intended for bishops to wear around their necks.

210 icons, which are to be added to new collections or to consecrate new homes, are on display in the Česianu-Rakovice Palace, and will be auctioned on December 6. The exhibition is open from Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00. Admission is free, visitors will receive a free consultation from representatives of Artmark House.

The icon on the glaze “Heavenly Trap” was probably painted by Ioan Kostea Verman

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