ANTIQUE C. 19th CENTURY IMPERIAL RUSSIAN SILVER " 84 " SMALL ORTHODOX " SKULL " CROSS
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:28488847 | Country/Region of Manufacture: Unknown |
| Featured Refinements: Antique Orthodox Cross | Material: Russian solid silver "84" hallmark; blue enamel |
Antique small (approx. 7/8" tall with bale) RussianOrthodox fine silver Cross pendant featuring ancient "budded" design with the Sacred Name of Jesus inscribed as the "IC XC" Christogram, and image of the Savior's Cross with a five-pointed star above it and the skull with crossbones (Adam'shead) buried below the Cross. The Cross is made in solid silver and is decorated with blue enamelinlays (partially preserved). It bears the "84" old Russian silverhallmark and a three-letter maker's ...mark on the reverse. Origin likely c. 19thcentury Imperial Russia. The Cross shows signs of wear due to its age anddevotional wearing, including reduced quality of images and inscriptions, chippedoff enamel fragments, scratches, dents and deformations, and patches of silverpatina. The inside of the necklace bale shows signs of wear consistent withlong wearing. The size and weight of the Cross are shown on the photographs forthis listing. The ends of the crossbars are "budded", with shapes of three circles, or "buds" each. In a Christian context, such a design could symbolically represent the Holy Trinity, similarly to the three-leaved clover, or Shamrock. The obverse bears a symbolic image of the Savior's cross depicted as a simple Latin-shaped cross flanked with the Sacred Name of Jesus Christ inscribed as the ancient Greek Christogram, as the"IC" on the left, and the "XC" on the right. The top crossbar end displays an image of a five-pointedstar (Pentagram or Pentagon) with one point projecting upwards. InChristian tradition, such a star might symbolizes the Five Wounds of Christ and FiveJoys of the Blessed Virgin Mary.A symbolic image of the skull, orAdam's head, buried below the Savior's Cross refers to Golgotha (Calvary), theelevated site where Jesus was crucified, which the Bible says means "theplace of the skull" in Hebrew. An ancient tradition of Catholic andOrthodox Churches held that it was also the burial place of Adam, thus alsosymbolizing the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death.
Please examine all photographs carefully and do your own research if necessary. Please note that photographs are an important part of the item's description. The decorative stone and measuring meter are not for sale, and are photographed with the item in order to provide a size reference and artistic background. Please ask all questions before making a purchase. There are no guarantees with the listing because most items are original vintage or antique objects that are quite old. All items are sold "as is" with no returns because of a change of mind offered. Shipping and handling is free for the continental US. International shipping is handled by Ebay Global Shipping Program. International buyers, please familiarize yourself with the Global Shipping Program through the Ebay "Help" section and ask your shipping questions, if any, prior to buying. Please note that customs regulations differ from country to country, and it is a buyer's responsibility to ensure that any customs fees or other duties collected by the buyer's country are paid and satisfied in full.
Please examine all photographs carefully and do your own research if necessary. Please note that photographs are an important part of the item's description. The decorative stone and measuring meter are not for sale, and are photographed with the item in order to provide a size reference and artistic background. Please ask all questions before making a purchase. There are no guarantees with the listing because most items are original vintage or antique objects that are quite old. All items are sold "as is" with no returns because of a change of mind offered. Shipping and handling is free for the continental US. International shipping is handled by Ebay Global Shipping Program. International buyers, please familiarize yourself with the Global Shipping Program through the Ebay "Help" section and ask your shipping questions, if any, prior to buying. Please note that customs regulations differ from country to country, and it is a buyer's responsibility to ensure that any customs fees or other duties collected by the buyer's country are paid and satisfied in full.
