The Kazan Icon of the Mother of God is an example of the Pomor Old Believers art. Artisans cast the image out of copper and decorated it with colored enamels.

In order to create this item, the craftsman first melted metal on fire and then poured it into a special mold. Then the item cooled and was sometimes modified by hand when small imperfections were eliminated. Often, Old Believers decorated icons with colored enamels — special powders that melted during firing and become bright and glossy, similar to colored glass.

When coloring icons, Old Believers used a wide variety of methods: they created enamels of the cloisonné type, where delicate floral or geometric motif separated the colored areas. The artisans also painted white and colored dots on a monochromatic background and fused one color into another without keeping the sharp boundaries.

The Vygovsky Monastery was among the first major centers of Old Believer art. It was built in Pomorie on the Vyg River at the end of the 17th century. From the very foundation, icon painting, bookbinding and other craft workshops were opened there, and foundry was of particular importance.

Molds for casting appeared in the monastery in the late 17th — early 18th centuries. The monastery authorities traveled around for household needs and at the same time bought old manuscripts, icons, altar crosses and copper-cast images, which could then serve as templates for their own products.

Pomeranian workshops continued to work even against the will of the authorities. In the early 18th century, the state needed non-ferrous metal for military needs. In 1722 Peter I issued a decree banning copper-cast church images,

The Holy Synod also banned cast items. The decree of January 31, 1723 said that “copper and tin icons” are made “extremely unskillfully and unillustratively.” Therefore, it was proposed that “these icons should not be cast from now on and the sale of these icons should be prohibited for the merchant people in the stalls.” Because of this decree, copper-cast small items were no longer produced in the workshops of the official Orthodox Church.

Most likely, the ban arose not only because of the state’s need for metal, but also because cast icons were popular among Old Believers casting that spread: on metal icons, there was a blessing gesture with two fingers depicted, while according to the new reforms, it was necessary to make the sign of the cross with three fingers. Old Believers anathematized those artists who deviated from the ancient symbol,

The icon of Vygovsky casting from the museum collection was created in the 19th century. The craftsman depicted the Mother of God of Kazan and the Christ Child, who blesses the faithful. The artist chose the gesture of two fingers that was preferred the Old Believers for the icon.