☼LARGE DEVOTIONAL CROSS IN MOTHER-OF-PEARL, Russian Manifacture, 19th century

h cm 53 x l cm 66 x w cm 25

Finely crafted from mother-of-pearl, it is characterised by rich openwork decoration featuring geometric, floral and plant motifs. The ends of the arms and the shaft feature small figurative reliefs set within architectural frames, depicting episodes and figures from the Christian tradition. The base is embellished with small columns, figures of saints, architectural elements and a central niche containing a sacred scene. On the underside is the inscription "JERUSALEM".