Kiot cross - 19th century

Height x width: 19.5 × 10.5 cm Weight: 197.5 g.
Bronze casting and polychrome enamels
The artwork features the canonical structure of the Russian eight-pointed cross, with three crossbeams, where the slanted lower arm serves as a symbolic suppedaneum. At the center is the depiction of the Crucifixion, while the upper section features the dove of the Holy Spirit, flanked by two flying angels. Above them, Christ emerges from the clouds, creating a symbolic vertical axis that unites Father, Holy Spirit, and Son. At the base of the cross, a skull is visible, representing Golgotha, which recalls the site of Christ's death and the victory over death through the resurrection. At the foot of the cross, the Calvary scene is completed by the four canonical witness figures: on the left, the Virgin Mary accompanied by Saint Mary of Clopas, while on the right stand Saint John the Evangelist and the Centurion Longinus, identifiable by his Roman armor. Crowning the composition, above the figure of the Pantocrator, is the scene of the Descent into Hell (Resurrection), where Christ breaks the gates of Hades to draw Adam and Eve to Himself. Finally, the uppermost section is occupied by the representation of the six-winged Seraphim, closing the artwork like a celestial seal and symbolizing the threshold of Divine Glory. Such artifacts were generally small in size and intended for private devotion. Their portability allowed them to be easily transported and, if necessary, hidden, thus responding to the religious needs of a community that, following the schism known as Raskol, suffered periods of persecution by the official Russian Orthodox Church.



Item condition grading: **** good.
The lot is in a good state of preservation with the normal wear and defects commensurate with its age and use over time.