Exceptional Antique Brass and Enamel Russian Orthodox Blessing Cross

This is an excellent quality authentic antique Russian Orthodox blessing Cross from the 18th-19th century. It is made of brass and adorned with beautiful blue enamel. The upper part of the cross features the Holy Face and two angels, with the sun and moon at the ends of the central bar. The main bar is richly decorated with Cyrillic inscriptions and a prayer text under Christ's arms. On both sides of Christ's feet, you can see the walls of Jerusalem and Mount Golgotha and the skull of Adam underfoot. The reverse of the crucifix is decorated with a plant motif.
 
MEASUREMENTS: 16.5cm x 10.7 cm (6.5 inches’ x 4.21 inches)
 
CONDITION: The item is in good condition given its age, but it does show signs of wear and use over time.
 
REFERENCES:
1. An example of such an icon is the Icon located in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington (from the former Kunz collection) published in the catalog "Russian Copper Icons and Crosses from the Kunz Collection: Castings of Faith" by Richard Eighme Ahlborn and Vera Beaver-Bricken Espinola.
2. Another example is in the Andrei Rublev Central Museum of Ancient Russian Culture and Arts and published in the catalog "Crosses, Icons, Hinged Icons" by Gnutova, E. Ya. Zotova.
3. "Russische Metall-Ikonen - in Formsand gegossener Glaube" by Stefan Jeckel.
 
We will also provide the buyer with photocopies of the pages from the mentioned references together with a certificate of authenticity.