Description:

Eastern Europe, Russia, ca. 19th century CE. A brass three bar cross, with the crucified Christ taking central place. Additional scenes in low relief surround him and create the detailed, ornate effect characteristic of Orthodox religious art. As a separate brass component, there is a four-sided stand that the base of the cross fits into. Size when full assembled: 3" W x 5.9" H (7.6 cm x 15 cm)

The three-barred cross is the most symbolic and common shape in the Orthodox Church. The short topmost bar represents the sign reading "This is the King of the Jews" from Luke 23:38 that was nailed to the top of Christ's cross; the short bottom-most bar represents the foot rest on Christ's cross. This is depicted as slanted because it is believed that, in Christ's final moments, he kicked it out of place. The right side points upward to Heaven and the left side points downward to Hell. The uppermost part of the cross contains a scene of heaven, with the Father and twin angels looking down on the cross. The back of the cross has a series of ornate Cyrillic incised words.

Provenance: Ex-Hawkings collection, California

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#119143

  • Condition: Expected age wear and smooth patina from handling over the years.

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January 30, 2017 10:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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