Ethiopian Icon

Price: $195.00


 


Icons or holy images have survived from as far back as the fifteenth century. They were carved most often from olive and cedar wood. The painting is confined to the inner surface or panels of the diptychs & triptychs. They would first be primed with gypsum and then painted with mineral pigments such as cinnabar, orpiment and indigo using charcoal and chalk with an animal protein binding agent. Scenes such as the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, Passion of Christ, Evangelists, Equestrian Saints and other Holy entities were prevalent in the icons. the outer surfaces were decorated with abstract relief carvings. This icon is of modern make and measures 8" high by 3.5" wide (with panels closed) by 1" deep.