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Caesar
Guest
Is there anything I can do to keep hand-painted icons in good condition? Is it right to frame the icon?
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Hesychios
Guest
A frame is OK if you want.
They do not generally require a lot of attention, just light dusting (feather duster). There are scarves (or towels) that can be draped over the top that look nice and help keep the dust off. This is a Ukrainian tradition. (They will probably tell you it is to show special honor to the subject of the icon, but it also helps control dust!)
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I presume you are not kissing yours (if you do, don’t slobber, make it dry). If you want you could keep it in a glass or plexiglass case, one will see this a lot in churches, especially for the very old and rare ones. People kiss the cases. They can be pricey.
I have been told that you can wipe them down with rose water occasionally, I have yet to need to do this myself. I think it is done to break up the smokey film that starts to accumulate from candles and olive oil lampadas. You probably will not have to think about that for a long time.
Michael
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Caesar
Guest
Thank you for the helpful information.
As a side note, yes I do kiss the icon. In my parish, the Diocesan Cathedral, there are six beautiful byzantine-style icons that used to adorn the High Altar before it was pulled out in the 1970s. The icons were placed in the wall in the back of the nave covered by glass. This arrangement was supposed to be purely for decorative purposes, but the cleaners soon learned that the glass often had to be cleaned of lipstick and smudge marks that appeared in various places over the icons. Although I must sadly add that the icons might be taken out this spring during the interior renovations of the Cathedral, along with the side altars and most of the statuary.
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Hesychios
Guest
Tell them you want the icons!
You might pick them up for an attractive price. Antique dealers and other sorts are always picking up stuff that way, and profiteering. You would appreciate and use them.
Michael
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Caesar
Guest
If the Cathedral decides to sell them, I highly doubt I could afford them. The icons are hand painted with gold, stand over 6 feet tall and were written in eastern europe in the late 1800s. Something tells me they will probably just end up in the basement of the Bishop’s residence along with the communion rails and original altar.
Although the FSSP priest who comes to my city to say the traditional Mass every month is trying to buy up some of the statues and artwork that will be going to save them from exile in the basement. Perhaps I can convince him to invest in some icons
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havemercy
Guest
If you can get your hands on anything, let me know. I’m very interested. Six foot tall though? That’s insane. On second thought, why would I need a six foot icon? I don’t live in a church.
As far as taking care of icons, I inhereted a really old icon from my grandparents. I covered it in saran wrap, as it was falling appart, and the silver plate cover needed some reinforcement… I hope that’s okay.
I’ll scan it if anyone is interested.
As far as taking care of icons, I inhereted a really old icon from my grandparents. I covered it in saran wrap, as it was falling appart, and the silver plate cover needed some reinforcement… I hope that’s okay.
I’ll scan it if anyone is interested.
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Caesar
Guest
Ok, so I bought a nice wood frame for my icon today. I went to frame the icon only to discover that being written on a block of wood, and so it is thicker then a photograph, which is what the frame was made for. So, since I cannot put the back of the frame on, the icon will not be hanging on a wall or standing upright on a table. I dont want it to get dirty with dust and smoke, yet I cant frame it, and now I dont know where to put it 
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havemercy
Guest
If I find anything that serves the purpose (or can be adapted so as to) I’ll let you know. I’m also interested.
Pax Christi,
Pax Christi,
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Caesar
Guest
I dont really want to drill a hole in the icon to hang it on the wall.
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