Russian Orthodox Menaion Icon for December

Name: Russian Orthodox Menaion Icon for December
Brand: Johan
Availability: LimitedAvailability

Late 19th-century Russian Orthodox wooden panel icon showing rows of saints and scenes for the month of December in egg tempera. - view 1

1/3

Estimated value

$1,500 - $2,500

Rarity

Uncommon(5/10)

Type

Museum Object

RUSSIAN ORTHODOX MENAION ICON FOR DECEMBER: IDENTIFICATION

A tempera on wood panel icon depicting the Menaion (calendar of saints and feast days) for the month of December. The header bears the Church Slavonic inscription 'МЦЪ ДЕКАБРЬ'. The composition is divided into four horizontal registers, featuring finely painted miniature figures of saints organized by their feast days, demarcated by red calendrical numerals above their halos. The lowest register includes complex narrative scenes, notably the Nativity of Christ (Rozhdestvo Hristovo) situated near the bottom center.

Compare with other paintings in the archive: Surrealist Painting by William Vandenjoc, Abstract Expressionist Landscape Painting, Winterzon by Ansje Siel (2023).

SCARCITY

Uncommon70-80%

CommonLegendary

Genuine antiques with fewer examples on the market. Named makers, documented provenance, or early production examples.

Rarity 5/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 25 paintings items at rarity 5 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

Limited production
Named makers
Growing collector demand

Confidence Factors

Natural convex warping of the wood panel aligns physically with long-term cellular timber degradation.
Church Slavonic calligraphic abbreviations (titlos) match 19th-century regional workshop standards precisely.

How does authenticity detection work?

THE ART SPECIALIST'S TAKE

Museum-Trained Art Historian

Connoisseur

High confidence based on clear visibility of the Church Slavonic text, distinct stylistic markers of 19th-century Russian miniature icon painting, and appropriate physical aging on the wooden support.

KEY EVIDENCE

1Presence of 'МЦЪ ДЕКАБРЬ' inscription confirming the December Menaion function.
2Red calendrical numerals assigned to distinct figure groups progressing day by day through the month.
3Execution of miniature-style faces and garments indicative of the Mstyora or Palekh schools.
4Absence of the traditional 'kovcheg' (recessed center), pointing to late 19th-century panel preparation methods.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

→Examine the reverse of the panel for inset wooden splines (shponki) to confirm structural dating.
→Perform ultraviolet light inspection to map the exact extent of any localized varnish retouches.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

The wood panel shows a stable vertical curvature associated with natural aging. Pigment adherence remains strong with minimal flaking, save for minor abrasive losses along the red ochre margins. The central painted field is intact without obvious signs of modern overpainting or heavy restoration.

ART MARKET VALUATION

$1,500 - $2,500

Updated: May 10, 2026

Who buys this

Dedicated collectors of Russian Orthodox antiquities, specifically those assembling complete 12-month calendar sets or studying provincial iconographic schools.

What increases value

•High density of skillfully executed miniature figures
•Presence of major theological feast scenes like the Nativity within the panel
•Pristine condition of the micro-calligraphy and gold halos

What lowers value

•Separation from the other 11 monthly panels of its original set
•Absence of accompanying silver or brass riza (oklad) which often protected icons of this era

What makes top-tier examples

•Explicitly signed by a documented 19th-century master from Palekh
•Retention within a complete, matched 12-month set housed in original kiot display boxes