An Ecclesiastic

This ivory bust is perhaps Russian, made in ca. 1800-30. It depicts a middle-aged ecclesiastic with short hair, wearing a low necked, lace edged sleeveless surplice over a coat with a stand-up collar open to show a slip or waistcoat underneath. The ivory has an opaque yellow quality which suggests it is mammoth ivory. This in turn implies the bust was made in Russia, which would accord with the Russian Order shown here, which seems to represent a Chaplain of an Order of St Andrew. This artist has not yet been identified, but the use of Roman rather than Cyrillic alphabet may imply that this piece is not by a Russian sculptor, despite its Russian subject.