Antique inspired Cross - Bronze, Enamel - the 20th century - Russian Orthodox cross

Russian Orthodox Cross of the 20th Century – Bronze with polychrome enamels – Crucifixion of Christ

Period: 20th century
Origin: Russia
Field: Russian Orthodox tradition.
Material: Bronze
Technique: relief casting, with color fields presumably enamel
Dimensions: 20 × 10 cm
Weight: 183 grams

Ancient devotional Orthodox cross, Russian, attributable to the 20th century, characterized by the traditional three-bar structure and a rich iconographic relief decoration.

On the front is depicted the Crucifixion of Christ, accompanied by celestial figures, symbols of the Passion and inscriptions in ecclesiastical Cyrillic characters. At the bottom appears the skull of Adam, a symbolic element of Eastern Christian tradition recalling humanity’s redemption through Christ’s sacrifice.

Particularly interesting is the reverse, entirely decorated with an elaborate raised floral motif, composed of winding tendrils, leaves and stylized flowers. This ornamental repertoire belongs to the tradition of Russian religious fusion, documented also in 18th and 19th-century productions.

The cross retains the upper ring for hanging.

Conservation: shows signs of age and use, with surface patina and irregularities in the colored fields, as visible in the photographs. No specialist examinations have been carried out to verify any restoration.

Object of historical, religious and collecting interest, representative of the tradition of Russian metal icons.