This hand-painted wooden egg icon depicting the Mother of God and the Christ Child represents an exceptional example of Vladimir Gorsky's early American devotional work. The surface is executed with applied gold leaf and finished with a meticulously polished lacquer that is exceptionally smooth and refined, avoiding the overly shiny, plastic-like appearance characteristic of mass-produced decorative eggs. This object stands firmly within Gorsky's finest miniature period, during which he created a very limited number of gold-leaf icons for private collectors in Houston. The egg remains paired with its original turned wooden stand and survives in flawless, museum-grade condition.

Priced at the appraised value. The appraisal is available upon request.

This icon is attributable with complete confidence to Vladimir Gorsky (1950–2008) and was acquired directly from the artist in Houston in the mid-1990s. The owner personally knew the artist, lived in the same city, and purchased this piece during Gorsky's period of producing high-precision devotional eggs for private clients. Gorsky often explained to close friends "” including the present owner "” that he painted these miniature works using a magnifying glass, enabling him to create extraordinarily smooth surfaces with brushstrokes completely invisible even under strong magnification. This technique is fully evident here: the image has a photographic clarity and refinement that only Gorsky achieved in his early American period. The absence of a signature is consistent with other small-format works the artist sold privately during this time.


Condition:
Alterations: Original Condition Unaltered
Imperfections: Some Imperfections
Condition Notes: The egg is in flawless, near-mint condition. The gold leaf is bright, stable, and perfectly adhered, with no lifting, oxidation, or wear. The lacquer surface is exceptionally smooth and even, displaying a high-quality, hand-finished sheen without the artificial gloss associated with later commercial eggs. The painted image retains complete clarity and depth, with no fading, cracking, overpainting, or discoloration. Notably, even under powerful magnification, no brushstrokes are visible, a hallmark of Gorsky's meticulous miniature technique. The wooden egg is structurally perfect with no cracks or warping, and the original stand remains preserved with only minimal natural surface wear. Overall, the piece presents at a level of craftsmanship and preservation that is exceptionally rare.

Dimensions:
Height: 9 in.
Width: 4.5 in.
Depth: 4.49 in.

Category: Paintings
Origin: United States
Materials: Gold Leaf, Lacquer, Wood

Shipping:

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Location: This item ships from Houston, TX

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In the rare event that the item did not conform to the lot description in the sale, Chairish Auctions specialists are here to help. Buyers may return the item for a full refund provided you notify Chairish Auctions within 5 days of receiving the item.

Original Condition Unaltered; Some Imperfections; The egg is in flawless, near-mint condition. The gold leaf is bright, stable, and perfectly adhered, with no lifting, oxidation, or wear. The lacquer surface is exceptionally smooth and even, displaying a high-quality, hand-finished sheen without the artificial gloss associated with later commercial eggs. The painted image retains complete clarity and depth, with no fading, cracking, overpainting, or discoloration. Notably, even under powerful magnification, no brushstrokes are visible, a hallmark of Gorsky’s meticulous miniature technique. The wooden egg is structurally perfect with no cracks or warping, and the original stand remains preserved with only minimal natural surface wear. Overall, the piece presents at a level of craftsmanship and preservation that is exceptionally rare.