Mid 17th century A.D. Carved portable icon with integral loop, frontal and rear recesses each with a door hinged with thread; painted scenes within of the Crucifixion and the meeting of Saint Abune Tekle Haimanot and Gabra Manfas Keddus (?), St. George attacking a dragon, Mary and Infant Jesus with angels Gabriel and Michael. See Chojnacki, S., 'Notes on Art in Ethiopia in the 16th Century: an Enquiry into the Unknown Author(s)' in Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 9, July 1971, No. 2 pp. 21-97, figs.14,28, for similar scenes in similar style; cf. also Heldman, M., Munro-Hay Stuart, C., African Zion, The sacred art of Ethiopia, Yale University Press, 1993, cat.11, for an icon in similar style, and p.7. 91 grams, 10 cm high (4 in.).

Reece Gallery, c. 2010. Ex central London gallery.

A series of icons representing the Virgin of Santa Maria Maggiore were produced in Ethiopia in the 16th and 17th centuries; the icon offered here is one such example. Sitting on the left arm of his mother, Christ gives a blessing with his right hand and holds a book in his left hand, both details showing a close relationship with the Santa Maria Maggiore version. [No Reserve]