Lot 173A
Eastern Europe, Russia, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A cast bronze Russian Orthodox cross with the characteristics 3-crossbeams detailed with blue and white enamel. The short topmost bar represents the sign reading, "This is the King of the Jews" that was allegedly nailed to the top of Christ's cross and also contains a scene of heaven; and the short bottom-most bar is the footrest Christ kicked aside in his final moments and depicts a scene on earth. At the bottom is a skull which represents the skull of Adam, and below his feet are four letters meaning, "the place of the skull became Paradise." Inscribed on the back is the Cross Prayer in Cyrillic. Size: 13.5" L x 6.75" W (34.3 cm x 17.1 cm)
This style and type of Orthodox cross was often placed on an altar and used by the Old Believers, members of the Russian Orthodox Church who refused to accept the liturgical reforms introduced in the mid-17th century. The verso prayer inscription is the standard text of the Octoechos: Exapostilarion, Monday Matins, found also in the Prayer of the Praise of the Cross: "The Cross is the protector of the whole universe, the Cross is the beauty of the Church, the Cross is the might of kings, the Cross is the confirmation of the faithful, the Cross is the glory of angels, the Cross is the scourge of demons."
Provenance: ex-private Orange County, California, USA collection
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#183582
- Condition: Nicely preserved enamel and motifs, with patina. Small hole in one lateral terminal. Light surface wear commensurate with age, but overall in very nice condition.
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