An icon question

[Nine_Two]

This week our church bookstore got in a bunch of new icons, and I was looking at them. The question occured to me: Does anyone know what the red border or trim on almost every single icon represents?

I looked at my own personal collection of icons when I got home and noticed that every icon but one had that same border (the one that didn’t is one of those combination many-icons on one icon things that you see every once in a while).

I can come up with guesses, but I’m curious what someone who knows what they are talking about says (we have a few iconographers here, right?)

 

[CDB1718]

This week our church bookstore got in a bunch of new icons, and I was looking at them. The question occured to me: Does anyone know what the red border or trim on almost every single icon represents?

I looked at my own personal collection of icons when I got home and noticed that every icon but one had that same border (the one that didn’t is one of those combination many-icons on one icon things that you see every once in a while).

I can come up with guesses, but I’m curious what someone who knows what they are talking about says (we have a few iconographers here, right?)

It means St. Isaac of Syria Skete in Washington is their supplier?

There is actually significance. Red eggs, red vestments, red folk designs, red flags, communist red, red square… The color red has deep symbolism in Slavic culture. It’s the color of life and of blood. It is the same word as beautiful.

“A red corner, krasni ugol, in Russian culture is the icon corner, which was present in every Orthodox household. This was where the family’s icon and other religious accoutrements were kept. In English, the krasni ugol is translated either as “red corner” or “beautiful corner” depending upon the source.”

The red border used to be made from vermilion and/or the cheaper red lead, both of these being very common in antiquity. The tradition continues with less toxic paint today.

 

[Nine_Two]

Two of the icons are from St. Isaac’s in fact, although from just before they broke from the Church.

About half these icons are Greek, not Slavic, yet still have the red border. I have a hard time believing it is linked to Slavic culture.

 

[John_of_Patmos]

I have a lovely icon of Pope St. Gregory the Great from a Greek monastery, and guess what, red border. Is it kind of a scarlet?

 

[Nine_Two]

I’ve seen different shades, from almost brown, the bright red. But always red.

 

[iohanne]

I never noticed this but now that I just went and looked at all my icons, they do have that red border! Interesting! =D

 

[Splagchnizomai]

I’ve seen red too!

Does it have something to do with the Red Corner – red in Russian being the same for the color red and the word beautiful?

 

[CDB1718]

I’ve seen different shades, from almost brown, the bright red. But always red.

Vermilion is also called cinnabar. It is an orange-red that can vary from browns through reds.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermilion

Red lead/Minium
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_tetroxide
naturalpigments.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=457-10S

Here you can see that vermilion, or vermilion with minium, was the original red. britishmuseum.org/research/projects/conservation_of_orthodox_icons.aspx

The red that is now used is red clay (bole). I just found an explanation that’s attributed to using clay, but I’m thinking it is anachronistic. I might be wrong.

“After an image is chosen, the surface is prepared for gilding with the application of layers of animal glue and red clay, or Armenian bole. Red clay is used not only for its physical properties of silkiness and richness of color but also serves as a reminder of our beginnings, representing the earth, and humanity in its natural unenlightened state. In Hebrew the word Adam has three root meanings—man, red, and clay.”
nationalaltarguildassociation.org/?p=796

 

[Splagchnizomai]

Vermilion is also called cinnabar. It is an orange-red that can vary from browns through reds.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermilion

Red lead/Minium
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_tetroxide
naturalpigments.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=457-10S

Here you can see that vermilion, or vermilion with minium, was the original red. britishmuseum.org/research/projects/conservation_of_orthodox_icons.aspx

The red that is now used is red clay (bole). I just found an explanation that’s attributed to using clay, but I’m thinking it is anachronistic. I might be wrong.

“After an image is chosen, the surface is prepared for gilding with the application of layers of animal glue and red clay, or Armenian bole. Red clay is used not only for its physical properties of silkiness and richness of color but also serves as a reminder of our beginnings, representing the earth, and humanity in its natural unenlightened state. In Hebrew the word Adam has three root meanings—man, red, and clay.”
nationalaltarguildassociation.org/?p=796

Awesome!