ANTIQUE c.19th CENTURY LARGE 2 1/4" IMPERIAL RUSSIAN SILVER "84" ORTHODOX CROSS

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Seller: Top-Rated Seller godblessyou21 ✉️ (1,417) 100%, Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, Ships to: US & many other countries, Item: 204510960607 ANTIQUE c.19th CENTURY LARGE 2 1/4" IMPERIAL RUSSIAN SILVER "84" ORTHODOX CROSS.

Rare antique fine Imperial Russian silver large (approx. 2 1/4" tall with bale; weight approx. 5 g) Orthodox Cross pendant featuring ornate "budded" design with image of the three-bar Savior's Cross. The Cross is made in solid silver and was originally decorated with colored enamel (partially preserved). It bears the "84" old Russian silver hallmark that approximately corresponds to the "875" silver purity and a two-letter maker's mark on the reverse (highlighted on a picture). The initials of the maker, "А.Ч" ("A.Ch.") might have belonged to a 19th century silversmith A. Chuvilyaev (please see the last picture for a reference). The Cross shows visible signs of wear consistent with its age and devotional wearing, including reduced quality of artwork, deformations of the original shape, lost fragments of enamel, scratches, dents and patches of silver patina or oxidation. The loop of the necklace bale shows visible signs of repair(s) done at some point of the past history of the item. It appears that there was a gap in the top part of the loop, and that the ends were pulled together to close that gap in order to continue wearing the cross on a necklace (please see the pictures). The size and weight of the item are shown on the photographs for this listing. It is sold as a collectible object, and is not recommended for wearing as jewelry because of its potential fragility.

The obverse bears a symbolic image of the three-bar Suppedaneum cross venerated in the Slavonic Orthodox and some Eastern Catholic churches as the true Savior's Cross. Such a cross has three horizontal crossbeams: the top one represents the "INRI" nameplate, and the bottom one, a footrest. The footrest crossbeam is depicted pointing up, toward Heaven, on Christ's right hand side where the Penitent thief, St. Dismas was crucified.

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 top "budded" crossbar end incorporates the "INRI" abbreviation made in Cyrillic letters as "INЦI" . The other crossbar ends are decorated with a floral or vine-like ornament symbolizing the life-giving nature of the Christian Cross, and also referring to the preaching of Christ: "I am the vine; you are the branches" (John 15:5).   The left and right side "budded" ends of the horizontal crossbar bear the Sacred Name of Jesus Christ inscribed as the "IC XC" Greek Christogram, the "IC" on the left, and the "XC" on the right.  

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 measuring meter and electronic scale are not for sale, and might be photographed with the item in order to provide a size and weight reference. 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. International buyers, please 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.

  • Condition: Used
  • Condition: Rare antique fine Imperial Russian silver large (approx. 2 1/4" tall with bale; weight approx. 5 g) Orthodox Cross pendant. It is made in solid silver and was originally decorated with colored enamel (partially preserved). It bears the "84" old Russian silver hallmark that approximately corresponds to the .875 silver purity and a two-letter maker's mark with initials "А.Ч" on the reverse. The Cross shows visible signs of wear consistent with its age and devotional wearing, including reduced quality of artwork, deformations of the original shape, lost fragments of enamel, scratches, dents and patches of silver patina or oxidation. The loop of the necklace bale shows visible signs of repair(s) done at some point of the past history of the item. It appears that there was a gap in the top part of the loop, and that the ends were pulled together to close that gap (please see the pictures). It is sold as a collectible object, and is not recommended for wearing
  • Featured Refinements: Antique Cross pendant
  • Material: Solid silver Imperial Russian "84" hallmark ~.875 purity
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: Unknown

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