Antique Russian Orthodox Bronze Crucifix with Enamels, early 19th century, 16x10 cm
Antique Russian Orthodox bronze crucifix, early 19th century, 16 x 10.5 cm. A typical Russian Orthodox bronze crucifix characterized by the distinctive three-barred structure, including the slanted lower bar that symbolizes the "Scales of justice": on one side it indicates the Good Thief ascending to Paradise, on the other the Bad Thief turning away from salvation. The lower register presents symbolic elements tied to the earthly Jerusalem and the heavenly Jerusalem, evoking the passage from tra...
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Antique Russian Orthodox bronze crucifix, early 19th century, 16 x 10.5 cm. A typical Russian Orthodox bronze crucifix characterized by the distinctive three-barred structure, including the slanted lower bar that symbolizes the "Scales of justice": on one side it indicates the Good Thief ascending to Paradise, on the other the Bad Thief turning away from salvation. The lower register presents symbolic elements tied to the earthly Jerusalem and the heavenly Jerusalem, evoking the passage from transience to redemption. The iconography is rich and articulated: in addition to the Crucifixion, there are key Gospel scenes such as the Annunciation, the Adoration of the Magi, the Entry into Jerusalem and the Trinity, all finely executed in relief and enhanced by decorative motifs. At the base is Mount Golgotha with the skull of Adam, a powerful symbol of humanity's redemption through Christ's sacrifice. In the Eastern tradition Christ is not portrayed in the convulsion of suffering but with regal composure, an expression of victory over death. The inscriptions recall the salvific meaning of the Cross, the place where "the site of the Crucified One becomes Paradise." More than an artistic object, this crucifix functions as an authentic aid to contemplation, condensing the history of salvation into a single, emblematic image.
Provenance: Moscow, Russia.
Materials: Bronze and enamels.
Dimensions: 16 x 10.5 cm.
Period: early 19th century.