Antique 19th-century Russian Orthodox bronze crucifix, 6x4 in
Antique 19th-century Russian Orthodox bronze crucifix, 6x4 in.
A typical Russian Orthodox crucifix in bronze, characterised by the distinctive three-bar structure, including the lower slanted bar symbolising the “scales of justice”: on one side the Good Thief ascending to Paradise, on the other the impenitent thief turning away from salvation. The lower register depicts symbolic elements linked to the earthly Jerusalem and the heavenly Jerusalem, evoking the passage from transience to redemption.
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Antique 19th-century Russian Orthodox bronze crucifix, 6x4 in.
A typical Russian Orthodox crucifix in bronze, characterised by the distinctive three-bar structure, including the lower slanted bar symbolising the “scales of justice”: on one side the Good Thief ascending to Paradise, on the other the impenitent thief turning away from salvation. The lower register depicts symbolic elements linked to the earthly Jerusalem and the heavenly Jerusalem, evoking the passage from transience to redemption.
The iconography is rich and articulated: alongside the Crucifixion are key Gospel scenes such as the Annunciation, the Adoration of the Magi, the Entry into Jerusalem and the Trinity, all finely modelled in relief and enriched with decorative motifs. At the base is Mount Golgotha with Adam’s skull, a powerful symbol of humanity’s redemption through Christ’s sacrifice.
In the Eastern tradition Christ is represented not in the convulsion of suffering but with a regal composure, an expression of victory over death. The engraved inscriptions recall the salvific meaning of the Cross, where “the place of the Crucified becomes Paradise”.
This crucifix is not only an artistic object but also an authentic instrument of contemplation, able to encapsulate the whole story of salvation in a single image.
Provenance: Moscow, Russia.
Materials: bronze, enamel.
Dimensions: 6.3x4.1 in.
Period: early 19th century.