Russian Stauroteca icon with bronze and enamels cross

The artwork represents Calvary with Jesus crucified and on either side his Mother, Martha and the centurion Longinus. The cross is a typical Russian Orthodox type and shows: at the top, the figure of Christ the Savior with a halo and slightly lower, two Angels; the Body of Christ is fixed to the Cross with four nails, and has his head turned back to the right; on the lower inclined part is depicted the fallen Old Jerusalem, on the opposite side rises the New Jerusalem. Jesus' death, in the Eastern tradition, is never depicted in the spasm of agony and with the signs of His bloody Passion, but always appears illuminated with royal nobility.

Item condition grading: **** good, minor defects and previous restaurations.