18th Century Old Believers Russian 4-Panel Bronze & Enamels Icon, Gospel Scenes

Description

An EARLY Old Believers' Russian Orthodox traveling icon
A traditional Russian "scladen (складень)" - a folding icon, intended as a … more An EARLY Old Believers' Russian Orthodox traveling icon
A traditional Russian "scladen (складень)" - a folding icon, intended as a traveling relic carried for veneration and protection
It consists of four cast bronze or brass panels
When opened, it displays well detailed images depicting Gospel scenes, enhanced with two tones of blue enamels
On the outside, the panel that stays atop when folded is adorned with another extensive image
It depicts the Golgotha cross also with traces of enamel
Cyrillic texts, hardly decipherable for us, around all the scenes
Circa early 18th c., before the 1722 Prohibition Edict of Tzar Peter The Great

Measurements: Approx. 6" tall x 4" wide x 0.5" thick overall when closed; it stretches to 14" wide with all 4 panels open
Weighs about 1 lb. 8 oz.

Condition: Very Good overall. Please see photos. Beautiful patina developed over time. Intact and all original less