Rating and value of Russian and Greek Orthodox icons and devotional paintings

If you own an Orthodox icon and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers can offer you their expertise. Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on today's market. Then, if you wish to sell your work, we'll guide you towards the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.

Rating and value of Orthodox icons

Orthodox icons are highly prized on the auction market, whatever the period. Today, prices for these works are reaching unprecedented heights under auctioneers' gavels. They are particularly prized by Russian and Greek buyers. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €20 to €5,760, a considerable delta but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Orthodox icons. In 2023, a Russian icon depicting the Virgin, with a riza made by the goldsmith Erik Frisk, sold for €5,760, whereas it was estimated at between €1,500 and €2,000.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Style and characteristics of Orthodox icons

In Christianity - as far as Catholics and Orthodox are concerned, since Protestants refuse to use images in their worship - the icon is an important devotional object that has spanned the ages and generations. Often created by painters using tempera on wood or simply oil on panel, icons, whether Russian or Greek, also require the work of goldsmiths.  

Origins and history

Icons come from the Greek word eikon, (image), and were first used to represent saints in the Christian religion. In the Middle Ages, there were many representations of Saint George and the Evangelists. The Orthodox religion was founded after the schism of 1054, dividing Eastern Christians, known at the time as Orthodox, and Western Christians, known as Catholics. Today, this bipartite division has to be qualified: a large part of Russia is Orthodox, as is Greece, as are many Yugoslav and Slavic countries. The Christian question is much more complicated in the Middle East, where some people still practice this religion; but the major icon productions are to be found in Russia and Greece.

Their veneration is a dogma of faith in the Orthodox religion, so they are of particular importance.

Iconic icons

The most widely distributed and emblematic icons of Greek and Orthodox production are those of Christ, naturally, of which traces can be found from the time of Emperor Constantine onwards. As such, they are truly historic pieces that have spanned almost the entire history of the Orthodox religion.

Legend has it that Saint Luke painted the Virgin Mary three times in his time. He is credited with the icons of the Virgin of Vladimir and the Virgin of Jerusalem. A representation that spans the history of mankind after Christ, it has been known since the time of the Roman Emperor Theodosius II, who died in 450, and is therefore not only the oldest, but also the most prized and produced on the art market.

Their current value on the auction market

Orthodox icons, both Greek and Russian, are very popular on the auction market. Icons depicting the liturgical calendar are particularly popular and famous in the Orthodox tradition. They generally fetch quite high prices.

Dating your Orthodox icon

It can sometimes be difficult to date an icon, since production can go back thousands of years. However, it is always possible to give an approximate idea. The state of conservation of your object and the study of pictorial techniques will be taken into account in order to determine the most precise date possible.

Knowing the value of a work

If you happen to own an Orthodox icon, or think your object might be one, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using the form on our website. A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your work, as well as any relevant information about it. If you wish to sell your work of art, our specialists will also be on hand to offer you alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account market trends.