Existing comment:
Adornment
The custom of adorning a holy image with a precious metal cover is as old as icons themselves. Traditionally, such acts expressed the donor's piety as well as his or her wealth and status. During the Imperial period (1721-1917), the demand for covered icons spread to all levels of Russian society. An icon cover's ornamentation, craftsmanship, and materials made it a sensitive gauge of the owner's social status, artistic taste, and financial resources. |