To the Orthodox Christian an "icon" is a "window" to the eternal. The icon is a pictorial representation of the Christian faith. In the early Church the icon was a vehicle for teaching illiterate faithful. As a reading believer would "read" the scriptures, the non reader would "read" the "icons." Therefore, it is said an icon is "written." The iconographer is said to write an icon, not paint it. Since any icon is "written" by God, by tradition an icon should not be signed.

The first Russian school of icon painting appeared in Suzdal at the end of the 13th Century and flourished until the end of the 15th Century when it was merged into the Moscow school. There were many icon schools in Old Russia - among them Tver, Pskov, Vologda, Vladimir-Suzdal and Moscow. The Novgorod school in quality, style and technique exceeded them all.

Icon with Faberge markings previously displayed at the Wonders Museum at the Memphis Pyramid and at The Bob Jones University Art Collection Gallery.

Closeup of Faberge Maker & Hallmarks