“Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr” icon

Dear friends!

It is on July 28, that we commemorate a significant event - Christianization of the Kyivan Rus, and venerate the memory of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr, the Christianizer.

Today’s release of “Artistic Heritage” is dedicated to the “Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr” icon (1900s). This art work is part of the Fund collection of the National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” (KPL-Zh-201). It is presented in a silver mounting and kiot.

Small icons consisting of two or more parts and connected by a special fastening appeared on the territory of Kyivan Rus almost immediately with the adoption of Christianity. There are several types of such icons, including next-to-skin and stand images. Both can be used as “traveling” accessorizes.

The kiot of the “Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr” icon from the Fund collection of the Preserve is a triptych. Its central part is closed by two icon folds. According to the size of the icon (44.0 × 30.0 cm) it can be considered as a stand icon. Icon’s side folds are wooden, upholstered in red satin fabric, with no images on them. The icon has a silver solid mounting with areas cut along the contour of the Saint’s hands and face. Such mountings became widespread in the 17th century. Special decorative effect of the icon is reached by the colorful pattern of the overhead halo, the Prince’s headdress, and the exquisite overlays in the corners of the frame, made in the technique of cloisonne and picturesque enamel. The “velvet” texture of the background that depicts the interior of the princely chambers, emphasizes the figure of St. Volodymyr. The Prince himself is dressed in a long cloak, made of precious fabric. On the icon’s mounting one can see Tarabrov’s Moscow factory branding mark.

In contrast to the famous jewelers of the 19th century, such as Faberge, Sazikova, Khlebnikova and others, the information about Tarabrov’s firm is very scarce. This fact sounds quite odd because Tarabrov’s firm occupied one of the leading positions in the jewelry industry of the late 19th - early 20th centuries. Tabarov’s jewelry works were highly appreciated by the experts of that time. Today they can beautify any collection. Single Tarabrov’s artworks can be found in the collections of the Armoury Museum (Moscow), Faberge Museum (St. Petersburg), Sergiev Posad State History and Art Museum-Preserve, Church Archaeological Museum of the Moscow Orthodox Theological Academy, Kyrylo-Bilozersky Historical, Architectural Art Museum-Reserve etc. They also often occur on the pages of antique salons’ auction sites.

Tarabrov’s pieces of jewelry have their own, special, artistic pattern, which is painted, polychrome and multicolored enamel.

Ivan Pylypovych Tarabrov was the owner of the workshop (then factory), known for its gold and silver pieces of jewelry (1893–1913/1917). He was making jewelry in his own house. The co-owner of the workshop was Mykola Pylypovych Tarabrov, who later organized his own manufacture.

Fund collection of the National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” has two artworks with Tarabrov’s branding mark. One of those items is “Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr” icon adorned by silver-mounting (KPL-Zh-210). The other is a shrine with the relics of St. Archdeacon Stefan the First Martyr (KPL-M-1168), which returned to Dormition Cathedral of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in December 2013. As of today, there are only two known reliquaries made by Ivan Tarabrov’s firm.

The text was prepared by Olena Serhii

Senior Research Associate

Research Division of Studying Artistic Heritage

Caption to the illustration:

1. “Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr” icon in a silver mounting and kiot, 1900s, Moscow, Ivan Tarabrov’s firm. 44 × 30 cm. Wood, silver, enamel, oil, gilding [KPL-F-201].