Guided tour of the 'Icon Room' exhibition

The guided tour of the 'Icon Room' exhibition showcases icons from the 17th to the early 20th century, which have found their way to the museum through various paths. These include recent customs confiscations, where icons were seized at the Narva customs checkpoint during attempts to illegally take them across the border, icons evacuated from Narva to Rakvere during World War II, and sacred objects saved from destruction during the years of Soviet rule.

One of the distinctive features of the exhibition is the juxtaposition of outstanding examples of icon painting and rare iconography with icons of simpler design, created far away from major iconographic centers. Such icons are considered particularly valuable today and are typically found in private collections. Special attention is given to cast icons and crosses, crafted in the workshops of the Old Believers, adorned with enamel, as well as a large two-sided iconostasis cross, similar to those found in Estonian Orthodox churches in the last quarter of the 19th century.

The exhibition is curated and designed by Tallinn-based artists, restorers, and collectors Andrey and Orest Kormashov.

Duration: 60 minutes