19th century large crucifix with two side panels hanging from the ends of the central crossbar. The crucifix is cast of solid brass. The uppermost figure shows "The Image Not Made With Hands". A descending angel with cloth-covered hands appears at each end of the upper crossbar. The words "King of Glory" are located in the lower part of the upper crossbar of the larger cross. A smaller tree-bar cross, with the corpus, is set into the larger. The abbreviation for "Jesus Christ" appears on the upper crossbar of the smaller cross. The text above the central crossbar of the smaller cross states "Son of God", and "Before your cross we bow down, O Master, and your Holy Resurrection we glorify", below that crossbar. Also, the ends of the center crossbar display the sun with open eyes (on proper right side) and the moon with closed. That represents the visible world struck dumb by the death of the "Source of Life". The vertical panel on the proper right displays full-figured Mother of God and St. Mary (the second Mary). The panel on the proper left side shows St. John and the Roman centurion St. Longinus.
The crucifix has the traditional elements of the crucifixion: Jerusalem’s walls, sponge-on-reed, spear and a skull set on stones marking the site as Golgotha, "the place of the skull". The Cyrillic initial letters at the foot of the cross stand for words " the place of the skull became Paradise". The crucifix’ back has fine engraved floral ornament. In good condition. Never restored.Item IM 145
mid 19th century
Size-8 1/2" x 5 1/2" Price -$299.00
