Antique 18th Century Russian Bronze Icon Mother of God of Smolensk

Authentic antique 18th century rare Russian Orthodox cast bronze icon of the Mother of God of Smolensk "Smolenskaya Hodigitria or Patron of the wayfarers). 
 
The Virgin gazes either into the distance or at the viewer holding the child Christ seated on her left arm while she gestures towards him with her right hand. The breast of the Virgin and the Christ adorned with Tsata. 

  
CONDITION: Showing signs of usage and wear with dark old patina.
 

 MEASUREMENTS: 5.5 cm x 5 cm (2.17 inches x 1.97 inches) 

  
REFERENCES: Similar icon is published in the book “Russchische Metall-Ikonen in Formsand gegossener Glaube” by Stefan Jeckel page 80-81 No 25. 

  
Due to the fact that the market is flooded by reproductions of the Russian brass Icons, which for inexperienced collectors look the same as the authentic objects, we would like to inform our clients that this is genuine authentic antique18th century Icon. 
 
We will provide the buyer with photocopies of the pages from the mentioned references together with a certificate of authenticity. 

  
The historical origins are obscure, but the type was known in the period before iconoclasm. The Tuesday procession of the Hodegetria icon kept in the Hodegon monastery in Constantinople was one of the memorable events of the city recorded by medieval visitors and pilgrims. In the eleventh century a copy made in Constantinople of the Hodegetria Virgin came to the Slavs in the retinue of the Byzantine imperial Princess Anna who married Prince Vsevelod of Chernigov in 1046. In 1101 it was installed in the Cathedral of Smolensk by Prince Vladimir Monomakh. The icon was brought to Moscow in 1308 and returned to Smolensk again in 1456. Many miracles are attributed to the work of the icon, among them the defeat of Napoleon at Borodino after it was paraded before the Russian Army in 1812.