Cross - Bronze - 1910-1920 - Russian Orthodox crucifix

19th-Century Bronze Lipovan (Old Rite) Cross/Crucifix – Unique Hand-Engraved Piece (11.5 x 7 cm)

Description:

Offered for sale is a rare piece of sacred art and a collector's item: a Russian Orthodox crucifix (Old Rite / Lipovan) dating back to the 19th century, remarkable for its craftsmanship. Unlike common mass-produced items, this piece is a unique workshop creation, featuring entirely hand-engraved details—letter by letter—on both sides.

Technical Specifications & Craftsmanship Details:

Dimensions: Height 11.5 cm | Width 7 cm (Canonical proportions, ideal for a collection or a home shrine).

Material: Solid bronze/period brass, featuring a superb natural brown patina untouched by chemicals. It displays authentic signs of natural oxidation (verdigris) in the deep recesses, attesting to its age.

Special Technique (Unique Piece): The main figurative elements (the Body of Christ, the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Walls of Jerusalem) are cast in high relief. In contrast, all liturgical texts on both sides were hand-carved into the metal after casting. The back even reveals a natural casting flaw (a small depression in the metal) over which the engraver subsequently worked with a chisel to incise the letter "Т"—irrefutable proof of post-casting manual craftsmanship. Base of the Cross: Decorated at the bottom with a geometric zigzag register and decorative dots created via manual incision (using a punch).

Iconography & Textual Interpretation:

Front of the Cross: Depicts the Crucifixion of Christ flanked by the spear and the reed; above, the Holy Trinity and two angels in flight are represented. The horizontal arms feature personifications of the Sun and Moon (cosmic symbols of the Crucifixion), beneath which the following text is hand-engraved: "We bow down before Thy Cross, O Master, and we praise and glorify Thy Holy Resurrection." Above the cave containing Adam's skull, the initials Г А (*Golova Adama* – Head of Adam) are engraved.

Back of the Cross: Entirely covered by a complete prayer of praise and protection (the *Exaposteilarion* of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross), hand-engraved in Church Slavonic: "The Cross is the guardian of the whole world, the Cross is the beauty of the Church, the Cross is the dominion of kings, the Cross is the strengthening of the faithful, the Cross is the glory of angels, the Cross is the wounding of demons."

State of Preservation:

The piece is in excellent condition. The relief is very distinct; the edges and sides are straight, smooth, and hand-finished with a period file. It has not undergone aggressive cleaning, thus retaining its historical value intact. The absence of a suspension loop confirms its original purpose as a travel cross or one intended for a private reliquary. A remarkable piece with a commanding presence, ideal for discerning collectors of religious artifacts or antique Russian/Lipovan art.