Silver Russian icon makes 146% increase on valuation at Sotheby's

A Russian icon of Christ Pantocrator in gilded silver and enamel oklad made a 146% increase on its initial estimate at Sotheby's October 29 sale in New York.

The piece, valued at $60,000-80,000, auctioned for $197,000. It features floral enamelling on the oklad (a protective cover that often features on Russian icons) along with gilded silver.

Pantocrator Christ Sothebys
Christ Pantocrator refers to the depiction of Christ as an all-powerful deity

It comes from the collection of Emmanuel Benakis (1843-1929), a merchant and philanthropist who was elected mayor of Athens in 1914.

His son opened the Benaki Museum, which features a significant collection of Greek art, in 1931.

A silver and enamel ferris wheel, designed by Gene Moore for Tiffany & Co circa 1990, also made an impressive increase on its estimate. It realised $161,000 against a valuation of $20,000-30,000 - up 436%.

Ferris wheel Tiffany Gene Moore
The ferris wheel features a variety of seated figures cast in silver

Moore worked as a window dresser for Tiffany's on Fifth Avenue, Manhattan and designed over 5,000 window displays from 1955 until the end of his career.

A Harald Nielsen and Georg Jensen silver fish platter sold for $137,000. Designed circa 1933-1944, the art nouveau-inspired work features a leaping dolphin at its apex.

A Russian imperial presentation Kovsh (a traditional Russian drinking ladle) also performed well at the sale, realising $131,000 - up 118% on its $40,000-60,000 estimate.

It was presented to Russian tax collector Dmitry Berezin in 1704 for exemplary service, and features the imperial double-headed eagle on the interior of the basin.

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